The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-19
LLOYD GEORGE ON
POLICY OF FRANCE
Continued From Page u

Continued From Page ID
huge armies throughout Central Elu
rope and to effect military understand
ings for striking together when the
hour arrives. All these armies tend
to become provocative and oppressive
to disarmed neighbors and may well
induce conflicts with more powerful
neighbors. Great armies were direct
ly responsible for the Great War
There are greater armies in the aggre.
gate being raised and organized today
into a greater war. And they will do
so unless something or somebody in.
tervenes.
Tramp of Armed Men
The tramp Of armed men and the
rattle Of artillery have an Intoxicating
effect upon the nations. There is no
wine that turns the head as completely
as the military swagger. We know
from experience what a danger tn
peace one nation with a swelled head
can become. What will happen when
several nations are so affected? Poor
Europel
Central Europe has always been q
volcanic region. One had hoped after
the terrible eruption Of 1914 volcanic
fires would have been so exhausted
they could not break through the
crust Of good sense for at least a
generation-if ever again. But the
French win not leave them alone
They are working with diabolical in.
genuity to break down that crust and
bring us once more face to face with
these hidden fires. If this goes on
they will once more fame up with
consuming fury.
I hate having to revert so often to
this topic. I only do so because I
am convinced Of the danger to civil
zation which is involved in the reck.
less policy pursued recently by French
statesmen.
Catastrophe Likely
Unless means are taken to arrest
it in time. an overwhelming catastro-
phe to mankind is inevitable.
The aggressive policy pursued by
the French ministry is as cowardly
as il is foolish. TrampIing on a fallen
foe is as contemplate an act as man
can commit. 1t does not make it any
less despicable that the fall was not
compassed by the trampler's own
prowess, but by the active help OF
others. whose combined efforts at last
succeeded in tripping up the foe and
pinning him to the ground. When he
lies PROSTATE, securely pegged and
roped, the kicking of him begins 1t
is a poor sport and it IS very foolish.
These ropes will not be roped forever.
One way or another, the vanquished
nation will arise Infatuated with the
base treatment. and France will then
discover how her behavior in victory
has Disguised all the friends who stood
by her in her trouble before.
French Realize
French statesmen realize this since
the new military combinations, which
are being organized elsewhere. France,
who cannot afford to honor her obliga-
tons to Britain and the United States
Of America. can find plenty of money
to equip European nations with de-
structive weapons, to intimidate-and
when called upon to tear-their neigh
bors. She cannot afford to pay inter
est upon these debts, so the burdened
taxpayers of Britain and America
must continue to do so whilst she is
utilizing her resources in militarizing
Europe. What does she hope TO gain
by this policy?
Instead of Russia, the British En-
pire. Italy and the United States OF
America, next time there will be by
her side Czecho- Slovakia, Poland
Jugo-Slavia and Roumanial That is
the calculation. What statesman
shipi If war came again between
France and Germany, one word from
Russia would neutralize three cut OF
four of these new allies. And even
if Russia were mute. no Polish
Czecho Slovakian or Roumanian
statesman would commit their armies
to an invasion of Germany with the
knowledge that a redoubtable Russian
army stood on the other side of
vulnerable frontiers. Russia wants
Bessarabia and Roumania does not
want to part with it. Poland has
Wilma and Galicia and her slice of
White Russia to think about Russia
is not too pleased about these
territories being in Polish hands.
The Questiqf
What would happen if Poland
marched her armies into Germany at
the request of the French general
staff? There would be a smaller
Poland for the remnant of these
armies tt return to. And as for
EZecho- SloVakia tba Czacbs oxo