The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1922. THE EUROPEAN SITUATION

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1922. THE EUROPEAN SITUATION

Commenting on Mr. Lloyd George’s impressive address to the journalists assembled at Genoa, the London Daily Telegraph said: “It is a terrible utterance to come from a statesman at the centre of international affairs, who has been feeling the pulse of our common civilisation. Will anyone declare he is wrong?” If, 9s only seems too probable, the British Premier has accurately focussed and dissected the European situation, then his assertion that the Entente is on the edge of a volcano that may burst into a violent eruption, which may shake the whole of Europe to its very foundations, graphically describes the situation. No sane person would dare to consider that Mr. Lloyd George was merely enacting a dramatic scene when he sketched with telling force what may happen if the Genoa Conference fails to solve the vital problems on which peace or war depend. Bearing in mind the position of intense responsibility that rests on Britain’s Premier, and the possibility that Germany and Russia might, and probably would. take advantage of any admission that their united strength was creating something akin to a scare among the Entente nations, it is only right to expect that every word uttered by Mr. Lloyd George was carefully weighed, hence the necessity for paying heed, to the strong appeal he made, not only to the Press of Britain and France, but also to America, to help towards ensuring the success of the Conference. It will be noticed that he deliberately stressed the necessity for the victors in the Great War showing restraint in the hour of triumph. In so doing it is evident he was referring more particularly to the extreme attitude the French Government is taking over German reparations and the recognition of Russia. It is these two dominating matters that have caused these countries to enter into an alliance which may result, unless the Genoa Conference is a success, in Europe again weltering in blood “within the life-time of those whose hair is now grey. Whether the storm clouds that, are now gathering so ominously will break—and break they will unless the atmosphere is cleared —depends on the issue of the Conference. It may seem undesirable to croak, but the facts and possibilities, as well as the probabilities. have to be faced and seriously considered. It this be done, it will be found that Russia and Germany form one camp opposed to the rest of Europe; France, though urgently needing British support, seems bent on going her own way, and, unhappily, that way leads to a conflict. Britain alone is sincerely striving to secure peace, even if concessions are part of the price therefor. No argument could be more impressive than that used by Mr. Lloyd George when he said:

“Germany and Russia are in a state of semi-antagonism to the rest of Europe, and anyone who imagines they can permanently keep down these two great peoples, representing two-thirds of the people of Europe, must either be blind or blinkered as to its impossibility. . . . When hungry Russia has been equipped by angry Germany, how long will it be before Europe is devastated?”

That, is the crux of the whole matter, and the Dominions, as ; well, as America, are vitally interested in the answer to the query. It may not seem much to rely ou the delegates at Genoa finding a common basis of agreement and entering into a Pact of Peace, but unless success is achieved in both these aims the outlook will be dark. The courage wherewith the British Premier was inspired when he put the position so fully and frankly before the Pressmen at Genoa should have a beneficial effect, in fostering a spirit of conciliation and reasonableness while yet there is time. In such a crisis the rattling of sabres is as dangerous as waving torches over open powder magazines. The danger is

so obvious that it is to be hoped France will heed the warning and do her utmost to promote the success of the Conference.