AN APPARENT FACT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 140, 10 December 1929, Page 15

AN APPARENT FACT

THE ENTENTE DOOMED

BRITAIN AND AMERICA

THE GERMAN MENACE

(By Cxuglielmo Ferrero.) (Copright.)

"The unending concessions and weaknesses demonstrated by the Conservative Party must go by the board and British polities must regain their vigour long enfeebled by decrepitude, and must take a firm stand," said Mr. Snowden recently in an interview with an American journalist.

All parties are inclined to pick holes in their adversaries' politics for the purpose of justifying their own programme, but the question now arises as to whether this weakness of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer accuses the Conservatives is a reality or a legend. It is certain that the Conservative Party in England had organised its foreign policy on the basis of an understanding with France. And it is furthermore an undeniable fact that, touching on questions of Continental import, the Conservative Government nearly invariably ended in ceding to opposing arguments and to coercion from France no sooner there arose a divergence of ideas or interests. Bid it give way through that alleged weakness that Mr. Snowden rails against or by reason of a certain policy that required from France either that country's support or neutrality in other fields? The question has no doubts about it. The Conservative Government yielded to France on many points referring to European questions because, directly or indireet]y, France returned the compliment by supporting British politics elsewhere. Here was no question of weakness, but of exchanging one good turn for another. There is a possibility that the Conservative Government ill calculated the capacities of their opponents, but as far as ceding on political grounds is concerned, they never made any gratuitous concessions in that direction during their reign of office. Two examples are sufficient to illustrate this point:—

Since 1919, a struggle is being waged between the Egyptian people and the British Protectorate. In tho course of that struggle France would have had occasion to support the natives against the Protectorate. Many old traditions, a. large number of vested interests, certain ideas nurtured by the French for well over a century would have justified •trance s taking up a stand favouring Egyptian aspirations. The British would have encountered tremendous difficulties m the valley of the Nile had public opinion and the Government of 4ranee corroborated the Egyptian attitude. Instead, French opinion and th« ■trench Government have kept a strict neutrality in face of bitter differences arising between Great Britain and ■kgypt.

NAVAL COMPETITION. . Since 1919 Great Britaiu has engaged in a silent campaign against the United States to safeguard her mastery of the dom'nf ?i. atß Qed P/ inl3rily by the Freebv A?! SeaS doctrine, and secondly l^T naval c°MPetition. This struggle for supremacy, oftentimes Veiled, constitutes one of the deep causes ia'ffi* «" worlds Now rn^Eng ani's pursuing of that unakuowledged warfare, France has given England support for the last ten years, rica in the latter's upholding of the freedom of the seas. France stool closely! 56811 qUeStiODS that touched her Studied from the above viewpoints it is easy to understand the significance of events during these last few weeks. The alliance effected between England and France that received the name of the Entente Cordiale- was actually entered into by the two nations as a defence against the German menace Germany beaten, its navy destroyed, the German danger lost, for England a great deal of its original gravity and alone would not have been sufficient cause to maintain the alliance on its primary basis. Nevertheless, though tho German threat was eliminated, at least for a certain time, Great Britain was involved in a bitter struggle with the United States waged beneath a mask of apparent courtesy, and also encountered unprecedented difficulties m many of her>vast colonies. An attitude of benevolent neutrality on the part of France in all these fields was a vital necessity to England, and until the Labour Party came into power Eneland was assured of French neutrality by in her turn exercising condescension in those fields of European politics tuat are of more vital interest to the .trench.

Anglo-American disagreements and other less important difficulties relating to British post-war polities are the factors that, after 1919, prolonged the Entente under its ancient form.- That is the secret of the last ten years of European history. The consequence is clear. J On the day when England and America agree the Entente Cordiale I will cease to exist on its original oasis of an alliance against the German clanger. Sueli a fact is growing apparent to all. What happened in Holland is only tho extremely confused beginning of an inevitable crisis. The discussions at the Hague have made the rest of the world sit up—they have astonished and awakened Europe like a clap of thunder. That is because for the last ten years the world has been accustomed to seeing Great Britain anxious and careful to preserve good relationship with France, and has suddenly been staggered at her risking a rupture with her ally over a mere matter of a few million marks! From, all sides questions, were formulated as to the hidden meaning of such a brusque volte face-. One can reply with complete assurance that the crisis of the Entente is what precipitated Snowden's iron stand at the Hague.

LABOUR'S INDEPENDENCE. The Labour Government in England wish to come to. an agreement with the United States and settle certain other questions in a peaceable spirit; the Egyptian question, for instance. They do not stand in such need of Franco's support or neutrality in those fields, and consequently they feel more independent of France in the European section of politics. Mr. Snowden wished to demonstrate that changed spirit, that independence, by his outspoken and curt attitude at the Hague. Events and circumstances indicate that the Entente Cordials conceived as

a protection against Germany, and often predicted to last a good twentyflyo years or more, is neaiing its end. It from thoso signs wo must conclude that iv tho future England and France will each go their own way without taking count of tho other, tho signs ;irc not good. A break between the two countries would bo catastrophic, and influential in re-plunging Europe into anarchy. Such a policy would favour only those who search for their own advancement in the troublod waters of other peoplo's discords. Smioli peoplo are numerous in every country in Europe. On tho day when the original alliance dies it> will have to bo reborn in tho guiso of an allianco between England and Franco whereby the peace of Europe is guaranteed, and whereby certain modifications are brought to bear, with tho changing needs of tho times, upon the different peace treatios. This alliance would be analogous to what constituted the "Sainto Allanco" inaugurated hy other nations between ISIS and 1848 to face the menace cf the then "Trench Peril" as represented by Napoleon.