The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-19
More Chickens Come Home

The press announces heavy Withdrawals by French
investors from British banks and follows this by an
announcement of joint loan of $2500oOOOO to Lon
don by France and the United States
All of which brings up sharply the question of the
wisdom of Lord Grey's policy back in 1914 when he
decided that it to the interest of Britain to go
into the with France and Russia. It now has
been established thoroughly by the documents THAI
Belgium had nothing to do with Greys decision about
entering the war.
He even refused to discuss British neutrality in
return for German promise to keep out of Belgium
He himself admits that it was his notion of British
interests which led him to join France and Russia
In long passage in his memoirs (vol II, PIP. $3.50
he tries to justify his decision on such grounds
George agreed with him and exclaimed to Walter
Hines Page: my God Mr.. Page, what else could we
do?"
Let us probe bit this wisdom of the viscount
OF Faodon in the light of the last seventeen years.
II Grey had been willing to go only far to tell
France and Russia straight out that he would toll
crate no aggression there is little probability that
there would have been any war in 1914
If Britain deliberately had stood aside she and
Germany could have divided at least the eastern
hemisphere between them have grown rich with SELL
ing materials, and have been in stronger posi-
ton than at any time since the congress of Vienna
What has been the outcome of Greys conception
of British interests? Some $4,000 English were slain
in the war and about 100000 wounded. The public
debt of England in 1914 was f7OO0OOOOO in 1919 it
amounted to 96,7500OO0OO
Britain prosperous in 1914 Now she has mil
lions of unemployed, requiring quarter of billion
dollars each year in the so-caed dole for support
She has slipped from her position the foremost
financial and commercial state of the world
Nor is Britain in any fortunate position in inter-
national relations. Germany never was any serious
menace to her. The German fleet was far inferior
and the Germans definitely had accepted that in
feriority in the 1910 ratio.
Moreover, the kaiser before the war was doing all
possible to placate England and gain her friendship
Now Britain, for the first time in centuries is open
to invasion. Indeed she is at the mercy of the
French air fleet and open to grave danger from the
French submarines.
Britain always has been opposed to any dominant
power on the continent of Europe but today France
enjoys hegemony unequaled since Europe emerged
from the Stone Age Nor is there any powerful ally
on the continent which Britain may use to checkmate
France.
Germany is disarmed and Russia is Communistic
1t might have been far worse if Czarist Russia had
emerged from the flushed with victory and this
is exactly what Grey contemplated in 1914.
The war ruined the Liberal party and forced
Britain at critical period to oscilate between the
stupidity of the Tories and the weakness and nexper
ence of the Laborites.
Such are the fruits of Grey's wisdom. George v
well might exclaim My God what else could we
have done which would have been as bad for
Britain?" The one who stands indicated is the
present premier of Britain, Ramsay Macdonald, who
declared that it was sheer madness for Britain to
allow the Gaul and the Slav to drag her into carnage
But today, he must bear the burdens imposed on
Britain by Greys folly, while the viscount of Fao-
don plays with his bees and birds in the country