Evening star., 1927-05-29

have begun to appeal 10 the British.
British craftsmanship and finance
have been taking strong interest in
Poland in the last two years. 1t IS
against Russia and not against Ger
many that the British would like to
use Poland. But it is just as certain
that Poland cannot be weakened on
the German side without being COM
promised in the face Of Russia. Thus
projects to weaken Poland to placate
Germany are less frequently heard in
the British press.
In their present mood the British
people are not more anxious than the
American for any real Continental
commitments. But British conditions
are far different from American. And
in recent years the British have at
least made as many mistakes as we
have. Scrapping the Japanese alliance
at the Washington Conference was a
blunder which today cannot be dis
guised. If the alliance still existed
the British situation in the Far East
would be impregnable. AS it is Japan
steadily refuses to follow British
leading.
In Europe the British see Germany
slowly but steadily regaining ground.
The German commercial fleet is be-
coming the chief rival Of the British.
At the same time Germany is steadily
making cartels and combinations with
continental countries which must
eventually comprise British interests
and invade British markets.
Warns of Peril.
In the present Europe Italy would
obviously like to have a hard and fast
alliance with the British But such
an alliance would have for England
manifest perilS, for Italy under Musso-
lint is seeking not the preservation
of existing Europe but the transforma-
ton of the Italian situation by both
political and territorial expansion.
Against the Russians and the Turks
Mussollni can be useful to Britain,
but the British have no desire to be
dragged into a new Balkan tangle in
support OF Ita1y's Albanian purposes.
AS far as Germany is concerned
Britain still inclines to support the
Germans against the French in the
matter of evacuation, but, on the
other. hand, finds her sympathy cooled
by the fact that the German Nation
alists are both resolved to keep the
way open to later Russo-German
alliance and determined to force a
revision of the eastern frontiers at
the expense of Poland.
Calls Importance Small.
1t would, of course, be absurd to
attempt to give to the recent ex-
| cursion of the French President to
London any very large importance.
| The European situation is not one
which promises immediate and far
reachlng changes. Nothing is less
hkeiy than that the British will agree
TO any hard and fast alliance with
France, Italy or Germany. The Brit
ism do not wish to arouse resentment
which would inevitably attend any
exclusive alliance.
| AT bottom the British desire to keen
their influence in Berlin, Rome and
| Paris equally. In recent months the
| visit or Winston Churchill to Rome
and variety Of other incidents have
| at least provoked gossip as to the
| exlstence or some Anglo-Italian un.
| derstanding.
| The visit Of Doumergue to London
has enabled the British Government
and people to assure the French peo.
pie that British sympathy with
| france remains vital, and that the
| memories of the war have not been
| forgotten.
| reconstruction Is Postponed.
1t Is axiomatic today. as at all times
| since the end of the war. that Euro
pean order is only possible while NOT
only Anglo-French relations are friend.
ly but French and British policies
measurably reconciled. The great
AnSIo-t'rench duel which continued
from the Paris peace conference to
the London conference, which made
the Dawes plan after the occupation
OF the Ruhr, postponed European re.
construction for nearly five wears.
Fortunately, despite a variety OF
olHerences of opinion, there is today
no actual cause for collision between
tne TWO countries. Both are equally
eager to preserve European peace.
and in the main Anglo. French reIa.
lions are at least as pleasant as at
any time since the end of the war.
IN sum, then, the visit of President
Doumergue suggests the desire on
ootn sides of the channel to keep
Anglo-trench relations friendly ratb.
er IMAM TO extend them. If France
would always welcome an actual ALI.
ance with the British. the French
people are aware that Britain is not
now in the mood to make such alli-
ances. On the other hand. the en-.
thus1asm displayed for the French in
London can serve to quiet French
suspicious that Italy has succeeded
Where France has failed.
Situation Called Same.
After the London excursion. as be.
fore, the European situation remains
the same. Although the Germans are
at the moment bending all energies
upon evacuation, no country or gov
ernment has any clear idea as to fu-
ture policy or permanent associations.
All governments and foreign offices
are playing what might be called
prestige politics" seeking for mex.
pensive achievements abroad for do
mestic political profits. But the
actual reconstruction in Europe is
not political, but economic and
financial.
The Italian operation In Albania
has raised the Balkan question in a
new form and it has obvious menace.
In this situation an actual destruc-
ton of the solidarity between the
great powers might lead to a tragedy.
Were France to back Jugoslavia and
Britain Italy dangerous crisis would
arrive. Hence it is important to have
Anglo-French Understanding pre-
served. So far, too, Doumergue's visit
is reassuring. But in the larger
sense there is nothing in the recent
visit to recall the momentous signif.
canoe of the two excursions of 1908.
when King Edward went to Paris and
Loubet journeyed to London.
(COpyright. 1927