The Washington herald., 1919-06-22
England Bright Spot
Among Nations Facing
Specter of Bolsheuisn,
France in Most Desperate Plight Since Over
throw OF Last Napoleon, and Italy Finds
Self Little Better Off,

suSCess- france VIII 60 all the way
70 reaction or Bolshevism. 10 revive
/. the glories Of Napoleon or fall pros
trate at the feet of Lenin.
The Foreign policy OF France at
present, however. completely ignor-
ing the dangers of a labor unheavei
from below. is frankly imperialist.
l preparing the way for the domi-
nation over Europe that French
chauvanists desire.
This will be made clear by a glance
at the actual working out ~ French
foreign once policy in the present
chaotic state OF Europe. In every
land French influence is on the side
OF the most conservative group. the
group whose political ideals and aims
would At In with a France supreme
over her neiehbors and surrounded
by group OF inferior countries whose
governing classes must look to Paris
for support.
France Backing KoIehak.
Take Russia. France is the chief
hacker of Kolchak. who is regarded
by many Americans and British as
the tool Of reactionary interests who
desire to re-establish the monarchy
in Russia Ever since the Russian
revolution. the French Foreign Once
has given ear to representatives OF
the Cars regime and greatly en-
barrassed Washington and London by
its championship of Russian autoc-
racy, little as America or England
loves the Bolsheviks. Considered
alone. this attitude OF the French
might be laid to a natural desire TO
recover the enormous debt Russia
owes France and that the Bolsheviks
do not intend to pay, and also to
a desire to see a strong military
Russia again arise as an ally once
more against Germany. An autocra-
tic government the French Foreign
S--Ice reasons. would be more likely
to pay its debts and keep up a strong
army than any possible democratic
regime.
In all the other countries in Europe,
however. France is also playing the
diplomatic game of Richelieu ana
Napoleon. The attempt TO set up a
Rhine Republic has been shown up
by both British and American mill
tary authorities in the occupied dis
tricts as inspired from Paris, lack
ing all support among the people af-
fected. This purely political trick.
designed in imitation of a similar per-
formance by Napoleon. is an attempt
TO increase the relative strength of
rance by breaking up Germany.
-Neither England nor America have
cause TO love Germany overmuch, but
both countries promptly sat on the
new republic" idea as hard as they
could Only reactionary . rench poll
ticians are capable of deliberately
erecting in the heart Of Europe a new
grievance worse than Alsace-Lorraine
that must inevitably lead some day
to wars Of revenge.
Dread BoIsheyism.
Why should France. a republic,
support in every country the most
reactionary party? Defenders Of
curious fact to French dread of Boil
shevism. To prevent Bolshevik re-
volt everywhere. a strong hand is
needed. they say. and France backs
the strong hand in all regions
threatened by the revolutionary mi
crobe. This argument seems weak
to support for example in Poland
and Rumania the parties that op-
pose reforms and stand for the old
feudal privile ges OF the aristocracy
seems more inclined TO assist than
discourage the Bolsheviks.
In all this program the Imperial
ist faction in France looks to Mar
shall Foch as the man on horseback
who will IL necessary restore the
throne and altar" but who in any