The sun., 1916-09-03

English historian upon the subject,
Sir George Otto Trcvelyan declares
In his american Revolution:
III France had been content to
maintain "a pacific attitude throughout
the whole period OF the American
troubles. she would have been awarded
by an immense accession OF wealth
and n secure and exalted position
among the nations OF the world.
Those advantages. moreover. would
have accrued to her automatically and
inevitably. without risk or excrtion on
her part"
The French statesmen advising
Louis XVI. fully understood the
practical situation and would never
hands had been forced by the popu-
larity Of tho American cause and
the ardent sympathy Of the French
people with our struggle for independ-
ence. The Prime Minister Of Spain
pronounced the Treaty Of Alliance Of
February 4. 1878. "a glaring instance
Of Quixotism." And France then
stipulated for no advantage to herself
and no reimbursement. but on the con-
trary agreed to make no claim. what
over might be the result Of the war.
In order to realize he extent OF the
"magnanimous policy" Of France to-
ward America, as Hamilton expressed
II, every American should read the
Treaty of Alliance. unique In IL own
history and the most generous In the
annals of the world.
There were, Of course. all kinds OF
intrigues and collateral movements.
such as the pressure Of the military
party and from Frederick Of Prussia
and the longing for revenge on Eng
land. Nevertheless the controlling In
fiuence was the general demand Of
tho French people. u demand which
was fundamentally unseltish and
which ultimately became Irresistible.
Nor should We ever forget that the
French Queen. Marie Antolnettc. was
enthusiastically pro-American.
I have not the rashness to stir up
tho old and buried controversies as TO
the total OF loans and gifts to America
from Louis XVI. and various French
men. I doubt whether ever these
direct loans were W entirely repaid:
certainly the debt 10 Bcaumarchais
was never fully discharged, and none
Of tho gifts was eve returned. We
Americans must accept the statement
OF Pickering. ur Secretary OF State
Of 1897, who in a despatch to the
American Minister at Paris declared
that "all the loans and supplies re-
ceived from France In tho American
war, amounting nearly to 5000. 900
livres," had been paid In 1895. that
Is, twelve years after the treaty OF
peace. Fut there still remains Il far
greater item, and that Is tho actual
cost to tho Royal Treasury Of the
American Alliance. which as matter
Of fact bankruptcd France and was
one Of tho principal causes OF the
French Revolution v years later.
The King Of France did not plunge
into the Tranco-Amerlcan Alliance
and consequent war with England IN
ignorance Of It's cost and It's danger
Turgot pointed out to him that the
first cannon shot III any such wal
would mean the bankruptcy Of France
As 1t turned out. tho salvation OF
America involved tho utter ruin of the
French monarchy. There 10. however
much uncertainty rs TO tho actual fG'
urea Of the cost to France Of participa'
ton in tho war. The French archive,
show a direct expenditure OF 1907
500 900 livres. but these figures do moi
include payments made In and after
tho year 1888. which must have beef
very large.
Prof. Marion Of the College Of France
has expressed the opinion that IN,