The San Francisco call., 1907-06-08

FRANCE WILL ADVOCATE
PEACE At THE HAGUE
Foreign Minister Declafes
That Nation Stands
for Cancellation
GERMANY IS FEARED
People of Gallo Country
Haunted by Shadows OF
Mighty Teutons
GERMANY IS FEARED

PARIS, June TN the chamber OF
deputies today M. Depressense, social
ist, interpellated the government rela-
tive to the attitude of France at The
Hague peace conference. He referred
to Great Britain as precocious In
strument of peace for the whole
world" and declared that immense ar
maments would mean bankruptcy for
the countries adopting such policy.
Foreign Minister Pinohon in reply
said that the coming conference would
be veritable international parliament.
France would remain true to herself
by playing an unrestricted role OF
moderation and conciliation. similar to
that adopted by M. Bourgeois, head of
the French delegation to the peace
conference of 1899. The names and
regulations of the French delegates,
he added. guaranteed the useful full
fillment of their mission
The chamber unanimously approved
the minister's declaration Perhaps
none of the great European powers,
with the possible exception of Italy.
will enter The Hague conference more
embarrassed than France. A regime
of peace is essential for the solution of
the great economic and sociological
problems her statesmen are undertak-
ing to solve at home. Yet in her rela-
lived for years and still lives under
the haunting shadow of her mighty
German neighbor.
Almost every Frenchman feels
vaguely but surely that some time
France will again have to confront
Germany on the battlefield. The
memory of the acute situation pre-
ceding the Algeciras conference Is still
fresh in the minds of those conduct
ing the government and they feel that
to champion anything inSthe direction
of reduction or limitation of arma-
ments would be to show a weakness
that might encourage Frances old foe
to aggression. Moreover, to a lesser
extent the government must reckon
with a certain revengefuI and militant
spirit in her people which manifests
itself in keeping fresh flowers forever
on the statues of the lost provinces of
Alsace and Lorraine, and never gets
tired of talking of revenge
But above all the French govern
ment must consider the international
obligations which she has contracted
with foreign powers, her alliance with
Russia and her series of ententes with
England, Italy and Spain which are
now to be supplemented with a similar
convention with Japan The alliance
and friendships entered into originally
to protect her from the specter of
Germany, and since extended in the
interest of peace, have now made her
member of an international combi-
nation which in a congress of nations
such as will meet at The Hague divests
her of freedom of action She is ma
turally compelled to consult the wishes
of her allies and friends. And at
present the controlling and dominating
spirit of the combination to which
France belongs is England.
England's aims and policies are
therefore likely to be most largely re-
f1ected whenever the members of the
combination reach a common attitude
upon the larger issues at The Hague.
And for weeks and months London has
been in intimate exchange with the
chancellories of Paris and her other
continental friends with q view of pre-
senting a united front upon the main
question. Frances attitude on the
Drago doctrine, the immunity of pri-
vate property at sea, the convention
to be elaborated on maritime warfare,
including the rights Of neutrals, con-
trabands. the right to destroy ships
captured, the laying of and floating of
Russian program are therefore neces-
of these exchanges.
Upon one point Frances position
will be unequivocal. She will firmly
advocate the extension of the principle
of arbitration, compulsory where pos
sible, with the championing of every
thing such an attitude involves.