New-York tribune., 1919-04-10
The Coal and Iron Duel


population than France, whereas a gen
GRAFTON ago the two were about equal?
Why does France fear for her future if
left unprotected? Why does she ask
guarantees? The American who would
justly assess the rights and wrongs of
the Paris wrangling may we'll consider
these questions.
The minnow-minded, those who swim
about in the shadows Of superfcialty
say France is imperialistic and attribute
her relative decline to the greater indus
try and energy of the Germans, or to the
low French birth rate, or to dozen
other French deficiencies. The explana-
tlons do not suffice. In the 1000 years
Gaul and Teuton have confronted each
other the Gaul has equaled his neighbor
in thrift, in industry, in organizing
power. During the years of increasing
national disparity the Frenchman has
probably worked the harder and the
more intelligently, and personally has
been the more economical. The mcarre
French family is an effect-the result Of
hard experience which has taught
families that numerous children cannot
easily be placed in the way of lvelihoods
France has fallen behind chiefly be-
cause Of Germany's vastly greater sup
plies of coal and iron. Two hundred and
fifty years ago England had stationary
population Of eight million Then came
the uncovering Of her coal deposits and
the inventions making them useful, and
her population rose to thirty-cight
million. Coal and iron added thirty
million to England, and they have added
thirty million to Germany Resources
develop population as commonly as popu-
lation develops resources.
Germany has 400, 100000 900 tons of
coal, while France, within the borders of
August 1914, has but 1900, 900 900
tons Germany has substantially half
the coal of Europe, while France has
next to none. Gigantic was Germany's
lie when she said she had no place in the
sun. She was the most richly lowered
OF European nations.
In iron there is less disparity. The
chief iron deposit Of the European con-
tinent is in Lorraine, astride the from
tier Bismarck traced in 1871. Germany
thought she had seized the whole, but her
experts, as has since been naIvely ex-
planned, blundered. To grap the French
IRON supply was Germany's first military
objective, and attaining it she compelled
Er9nrn tn ro1I .4c
sea. The phrase "slight rectifcaton Of
the western frontier" which so often an
peared in the early German peace terms.
meant Bismarck's error was to be cor
rected-that France was to be ironless
as she is almost coaless.
Germany is now to lose the Lorraine
mines she stole, and then the condition. if
President Wilson has what is understood
to be his way, will be this: Germany
Will have the coal and sufficient iron in
Silesia and elsewhere to supplv her
needs, while France will have iron in
plenty, but little coal. Any one able to
see permanent peace in this situation is
gifted optimist
hundred years ago nationalism was
weak force, so little REGARDED that
populations were handed about as pron-
erty Now the doctrine finds acceptance
that those feeling affinities of race and
language have a right to be togethcr.
Ihls idea created modern Italy, modern
Germany, and brought Rumania. Bull
CARA, Serbia and Greece to the mans
Now it is creating Poland, Czecho- -S1avia.
Jugo-Slavia and cnlarging other states
IN the next century the world is likely
70 see economic sufiiciency as potent as
nationallsm has been. The nations will
say of what value is political indo-
pehdence II there is economic depend
encc? This thought is entering into the
CONSCIOUSNESS Of the peoples and is des
tined TO have increasing influence. One
may predict that it will gain an aura Of
morality and that it will be genuinely be-
heved that it is fundamentally wrong for
one group to monopolize great necessities
TO the exclusion Of others. The Prcsi-
dent is fond Of the phrase "forward-look
ing men, but those who think they are
forward-ooking are often backward
looking.
Here enters the problem Of the Saar
Valley, small district that is close to
the iron mines of Lorraine France seeks
1T, not because she has any desire to an
mex the population on the surface. but
because access to the Saar coal seems cs
scntial to her economic future. The coal
mines of Lens, wrecked with diabolic
German thoroughness, cannot be re-
opened for five years, and even when
worked again will not furnish fuel to
smet the ore Of Lorraine. Moreover