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Show ENGLAND READY TO PULL AWAY FROM FRANCE Editor Clearly Sets Forth Why Breach Grows Wider BV A. GARDINER. Britain's Greatest Libera Editor, (Copyright. l'.22. by The Standard-Examiner) Standard-Examiner) LONDON, Dec 16. There Is no longer any doubt that the situation between England and France 'has I reached a critical stage. With the recent change In the English government. govern-ment. Premier Poincarc of France probably looked for a more favorable favor-able atmosphere for his schemes on the continent, but he has suffered disillusion dis-illusion The notorious London conference, just ended, revealed France and England Eng-land In decisive antagonism on tho central Issue of the conference. It Is true th ri- . i- s ummlrnous decision deci-sion to reject the German proposals But It Is equally true that England was ready to accept these proposals ana iinany ugrceu co rcjeci uiviu ouiy i as a means of preventing an open I rupture. Had a rupture occurred the forthcoming Brussels conference , would have been torpedoed In France and France and England would huvo j been left In undisguised antagonism ISSUE II s HARROWED. Two weeks remuln for M. Polncare to decide whether the breach In allied policies Is openly to be declared and become final. The Issue now has plainly narrowed down to the question ques-tion as to whether Germany Is to bo politically and economically destroyed destroy-ed or helped to recover and brought back into the European system. PolUCSre'S policy frankly Is for the d'st ruction of Germany. The ground for this policy Is the French fear of the revival of Germany with the ultimate ul-timate power and will for revenge. This fear is aggravated by the senso that four years of merciless treat-merit treat-merit of tlermany has deepened th? spirit of revenge by the Rhine Tho longer the failure to establish peace continues the more Ineradicable Ineradica-ble that spirit becomes. A further cause for the Gallic fear of Germany Is tho tremendous fact of the continued decline In the French birth rate. Six German children are being born to one French child. Hence the French refusal to disarm, since j the policy of arming Africans means' the holding of Germany in subjeo-tlon subjeo-tlon Hore you havo tho French determination de-termination to complete the destruction destruc-tion of Germany as the only means for the future security of France. PA I LI RE EXPLAIN D This explains the failure of the London conference and Poincare's rejection re-jection of the German offer; also the demand that France take possession of the Ruhr. It Is universally agreed hero that no offering Oormany can make will bo acceptable to France and that Poincaro's heart Is set upon tho occupation of the Ruhr valley as tho vital essential to a permanent overlordship of Germany. liRmSH OlPOSED. Against this policy the whole spirit and opinion of the English people i mobilized. Even Earl Grey, France's most friendly advocate, realizes thtj moment has come for plain speaking. This week in the house of lords he accused the French of breatklng up tho bankers' conference in Paris which was the last roally hopeful move toward poace. He demands that there shall bo peace with Germany and the Inclusion of that country In the league of nations as the only means of saving European civilization civiliza-tion All of this represents the growing ferment of the public. It Is plain to svery mind that the destruction of Germany means the. destruction of England. The paralysis of English Industries with its consequence of hosts of unemployed is a growing menace to the very oxlstence of the country. Furthermore. It Is recognized recog-nized that this paralysis Is the direct result of French policy. While that policy continues. England will continue con-tinue to perish. PREMIER DOES NOT YrTXD. In thc presence of this undlsputable i.i. : no Idnjrllsh govornrrient will dare yield to Polncare. Such a course would bo a death sentence to British Industry and English lit. There then Is tho Impassable gulf between France and England Franco bellovos She can only live by deatroylng Germany. Ger-many. England knows Rhc can only live by restoring Germany and through Germany restoring the wholo fabric of European society. Which Is to prevail? if Polncare win not yield, if France g ii into the Ruhr, then the ruptujs will be final and Irrevocable. 'I he two countries Inevitably will drift farther and farther apart. To what ftfte That may be left to the Imagination Imag-ination Will Polncase incur that ter-rlfli ter-rlfli responsibility? it rets with him. I England has reached the cmd of her i. i her. No chango in government . -i n effect our ii'wtTlon This nation' wants peace and a restored Europe. It wants trade and 13 sick of endless conferences that only recal France standing obstinately In thc path of all these things. England believes that a reconciliation reconcilia-tion between France and Germany Is still possible. It believes that French security can be affected, not through bringing black ormles to France, but l.y giving Fran, e the guarantees l a real league of nations We are prepared to pay any price to achlee this end. The English people peo-ple have taxed themselves almost to the limit of extinction already and are prepared to continue tho burden but only on thc one condition that France will let Europe get on its feet and live and breathe again. |