Evening star., 1932-07-17
EUR0PE'SL|NE-UP
LEAVES j. 5. OUT
"Gent|emen's Agreem ent''
Puts u. S on Defensive on
Debts and Reparations.
Continued From First Page)

undoubtedly grew out Of the following
upper strata The common French, Brit
ish and Italian dislike of the American
war debt policy, the common dislike OF
France and Great Britain for the Hoo
yer disarmament proposals, the one for
military and the other for naval rea-
sons; the common French. British and
Italian distrust of the Berlin govern
ment, following Chancellor Franz Won
Papens informal offer of military al
lance to France, and, finally. British
fears that unless Great Britain Joined
with France there would be some sort
of Franco-German economic and politi-
cal agreement consequent on which the
continent would be organized by France
and Germany without due regard for
Great Britain'S interests.
In order to grasp the sudden reversal
Of the political situation which this
entente has brought about. it is only
necessary to look back a few weeks
Germany, Russia and Italy were work
ing together for treaty revision and in
this they apparently had Great Brit
aims sympathy. France was isolated
Situation Is Changed.
Today France and Great Britain have
agreed to work together. Italy has ap-
parently dropped Germany and joined
France and Great Britain. Russia. sus-
picious of Won Papen, is making nom
aggression agreements with its West
ern neighbors, including Poland, and is
turning its main attention more and
more to the Far East. Germany Is
isolated.
Certain Americans inexperienced in
international politics may properly ask
what it matters to the United States
or to anybody just how the interna-
tional lineup shifts from day to day
or year to year. The answer is that
it matters enormously, for 1t is largely
on the basis of the existing lineup that
the worlds problems at any given time
are dealt with.
A great power isolated may be able
to block solutions, but only a strong
group can bring about positive changes,
and what these changes are likely to
be depends obviously on the character
and leadership of the predominant
group Thus few weeks ago Germany
could hope seriously for further treaty
revision in the near future. Today
any such hope appears futile.
Naturally nothing of all this appears
in the published text. Publicly the new
entente processes to be two things
first. Franco British agreement that
neither will discriminate against the
other commercially. This is in itself
highly important undertaking. Sec
ond, it is a Franco-British agreement
for full and frank exchange of views
on all European problems, especially
disarmament and preparation for the
world economic conference.
1t is further agreed that other Eu-
ropean states, particularly Italy, Bel
GUM and Germany, shall be invited
to join, and it is stated that all this
will be done in the spirit of the League
of Nations There is no mention of war
debts. but at almost the same moment
the text Of the so-called Lausanne
gentlemen's agreement has been pub
lished, whereby the Lausanne repara-
tions treaty is definitely and in writ
ing made contingent on a new war
debt settlement.
The gentlemen'S agreement Is signed
by Great Britain. France, Italy and
Belgium. Italy and Belgium are also
promptly joining the new Franco
British entente.
That Germany also will join in these
circumstances appears extremely doubt
full, for what could it gain in such a
combination where it could seemingly
U. S. Not Considered.
In French and British circles it is
declared that the entente will be a
good thing for Europe. because it will
undertake to organize Europe along
peaceful and productive lines. =
Germany and Russia are unlikely
for the present to agree with this in
terpr citation. Nobody thus far pre-
tends here that 1t will also be good
thing for the United States. 1t is
merely being said. We'll, you yourself
told us to get together and put our
house in order, and that is precisely
what We are doing"
In League circles the entente is criti-
cized as a move tending to substitute
a Franco-BritiSh group for the League
Council and machinery.
In still other quarters the question
is asked, If this mutual conference
agreement" is merely as stated, a new
and better method for handling Eu
ropes problems. why was 1t necessary
at all? Did not the Lausanne declara-
ton. signed by IS powers, definitely
say "the signatory powers will make
every effort to resolve in the spirit
which has inspired the present agree
ment the problems which exist at the
present moment or may arise subSe-
quently?" Was not this declaration a
sufficient basis for the so-called new
method?
It is because there has thus far been
| no convincing answer to these questions
that the tendency throughout Europe
today is to regard the Franco British
accord not merely as an application of
method, but as something very like a
| new entente cordiale.
In any case time, it is said, will tell.
Copyright, 1922