Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-24
POLICY SHIFT SEEN
IN BRITISH ACTION
Stand of SnoWden on Debts
Held Overture to U. S.
for Agreements.
BY PAUL SCOTT nIOWRER.
~ Cable to The Star and Chicago Dali.
News. Copyright, 1929.

BY PAUL SCOTT NIOWRER.
BY Gable News Ne hs ceDyris ana isas daily
PARIS, August 24-It is no longer a
secret that in diplomatic circles the
principal event of the three weeks Of
interlocking diplomacy between London
and Washington at The Hague Is what
the Manchester Guardian calls brutal
reversal Of the British foreign policy
by the new Labor government.
Whether The Hague conference on
the Young plan and the Rhineland
evacuation reaches last minute COM
promise or adjourns undecided until
october this one dominant factor re-
mains and changes the political COM
plexion of the entire world.
Great Britain has broken her entente
with France. The understanding be-
tween the largest military and the
largest naval power, which was made
known a year ago by Sir Austen
Chamberlain's indiscretion regarding
and which caused such immediate un-
easiness to Germany, Italy, Russia and
the United States, Is a thing OF the
past. II 1t was accompanied by secret
verbal air and military understanding,
these also are now defunct.
Basis Of Policy.
The new British foreign policy IS
based not on France or any other con-
tinental power, but on the United states
with whom an understanding and II
possible an alliance is earnestly desired.
Thus world peace and disarmament,
in the British view, would be promoted
henceforth by the condition of close pc
litical and financial sympathy between
the two largest naval powers. Such, 1t
is widely believed, is the true explana-
ton of the two mysteries" OF the
Hague-the mystery of the real motive
for Snowden's stand for British pres
tige" and the mystery of the complete
silence of the United States regarding
the fate of the Young plan:
Philip Snowden Is indifferent, 1t Is
said, to the possible British isolation
from the continent because ne mas as,
surance of sympathy and even financial
support from the United States and
similarly Washington, which in every
preceding grave reparations crisis has
raised its voice one way or the other,
this time has said nothing because 1t
desires to profit by the Labor govern
ment's advances to reach naval agree
ment with Great Britain. Such at least
is the theory now widespread in Euro
pean chancelleries Every British gov
eminent since 1918 has, OF course, de-
sired an alliance with the United States.
The Irish settlement, the onerouS Amer
lean war debt settlement, the Washing
ton conference treaties, were all con-
sented to by Britain largely as friendly
gesture toward the United States In the
hope of securing a working agreement.
No Counter Offer.
Washington, however, in the British
view, merely accepted the British con-
cessions without offering the slightest
counterpart.
situation and following the failure OF the
Geneva Naval Conference therefore de-
cided to base its policy on France IN
stead of the United States. The result
was a rapid worsening of the Anglo
American relations. This process alarmed
the British public, which, moreover, was
never enthusiastic about the French
alliance, and the Labor party made no
secret of its intentions of dropping
France and seeking an American rap
prochement if it won the elections.
Its course of action since it came 10
power merely follows out the program
as outlined in these dispatches as early
as May Is last.
. Lacking a real majority, the Labor
party needs success of some sort to con-
fsolidate its position. Such success IN
interior affairs is almost Impossible,
for Liberal support here is lacking. But
in foreign affairs the Liberals think as
do the Laborites and success looks easier
to achieve. Hence, perhaps, grows the
emphasis now being placed on the
breach with France by Snowden at The
Hague and on the rapprochement with
the United States publicly sought by
Prime Minister Ramsay Mcdonald,
through the intermediary Charles G.
Dawes in London.
what Britain apparently wants from
the United States Is first, naval agree
ment by means OF mutual concessions,
second, an understanding regarding
the freedom Of the seas; third, under
standing regarding the world markets,
particularly Latin America; fourth,
financial support for the pound sterling,
the position of which appears somewhat
in the face Of possible French
financial attacks or a possible general
crisis as the result of the non-appllca-
ton Of the Young plan.
But to what extent Is the United
States ready to grant these desiderata?
This question, which immensely inter-
ests all leading capitalists, seems for the
present unanswerable. The United
OJdJCS llco COIlIOU1lOC0 t1iC oA4VAoAA AAoPSS
SO often since the World War that some
observers think that real Anglo
entente is permanently i'm
possible.
Others, however, believe they detect
for the first time evidence. that the
United States, under President Hoover'S
administration, is really ready to meet
Britain half way all along the line.
Sees Widespread Result.
If this is true the resultant under
standing of the two chief naval powers
will affect, on one way or another, the
foreign policies of practically every ma
ton. In any case, the way now ap-
pears open. through mutual conces-
sions, for agreement on cruisers, and
Ramsay Macdonald seems even to be-
1ieve that agreement on the freedom Of
the seas Is not unobtainable.
Regarding the world markets, some
English and American flnancierS are
alarmed ct the growth Of Continental
European cartelS and seem to feel that
an Anglo american arrangement would
be possible and profitable.
Regarding American financial sup
port for the pound, it appears likely
banking credits have been or will be
placed at London's disposal in case of
need. This need perhaps is imminent
and may be one of the first real tests
of the strength OF the new Anglo
American sympathy.