New-York tribune., 1919-03-31

taneous publication in ole Matin" and
echo de Paris" of articles setting
forth the French claims, though it must
not be forgotten that the writer sign
ing himself "Pertinax" in the "Echo de
Paris" is known to have relations with
the French Foreign Office, which may
excuse the suggestion that his state
ment is issued for special reason. He
says:
For three days the supreme interests
OF France have been discussed in the
Council of -Four. On Premier Clemen-
ceau falls the responsibility of barry
ing on-chiefy with America and Eng
land-a debate which will affect all our
history. Yesterday we expressed the
wish that the president of the council
ask representatives of the council to
authenticate the plans he formulates
Hope that this wish would be fulfilled
was expressed again to-day in the
Chamber of Deputies.
what we ask is safety from a Ger
many which will soon have a popula-
tion of two to our one, which means
the resuming of economic development,
other countries upon the same footing
as 1914. What are the conditions that
will assure this safety?
Would Take Rhine Valley
"Therc should be withdrawal of
Germany's military frontier to a line
east of the Rhine. The river itself can
not be considered as a real geographic
barrier, Tor the fact is that its two
banks never had more than one per-
manent master. The zone thus defined
as the French German military from
enemy is concerned, either soldiers,
conscripts, military works, strategic
railways, war factories or garrisons for
covering troops. IT, despite the pre-
cautlors taken, Germany decides again
to attack, this territory would be the
field o; battle and would no longer act
as springboard for leap into Lor-
raine, ns in the past. All this is postu-
lated by the present military occupa-
ton, which is also necessitatcd by con
siderations relative to the payment of
indemnity. AS for political organiza-
ton, that's another question.
"A military alliance with Belgium,
England and the United States would
enable us to act automatically at the
moment the adversary makes the slight
est effort to recover the line of the
Rhine. It the league of nations pro-
vides q framework for such a military
alliance, such casus belli must be in
scribed among it's obligations. In the
last four years league of nations has
in fact functioned to our benefit. The
problem henceforth is to substitute
weeks for years which have been neces-
sary for it to find itself and act.
Must Have Saar Basin
"lNor an indefinite period of time we
must have mines and agricultural lands
to replace those destroyed by the in
vasion. 1t is on this ground that the
basin Of the Saar must be claimed in
its entirety and appropriations must be
ordered.
''The payment of war indemnity
would compensate for all that has
been destroyed and at least that part
of the wars expenses which proceeds
from state of economic inferiority,
relatively to our allies, to which we
have been reduced by this long invasion
of our territory. In justice we cannot
forget the reduction of earnings
of clientele, etc.--which has been the
result of a long eclipse in the world
markets of our industry, condition
that our allies have not known.
ut cannot be denied that this pro
gramme is difficult of accomplishment.
agreement with the knife at their
throats, and will only carry out the
provisions of such terms if the knife is
kept at their throats. TO accomplish
this, therefore, the Allies must domi-
nate the Old World for the succeeding
generation. All the word censoredl
huckster and pacifism which look for
the quickest commercial profit and the
least military effort are against this
programme, as certain imprudences OF
/ language passage censoredl have
proved. But without carrying out this
programme neither France nor Europe
can have peace within or without"
Urges Germany's Disarmament
The "Matin" article is almost identi
cal il tenor, and also contains a pass
age relative to the league of nation:
that is especially interesting. Thi.
paper refers to the disarmament O.
Germany as a necessary guarantee
adding as equally necessary "thc con
, troll that the league of nations, repre-
sented by duly constituted organisms
will exercise in the future over tn.
military situation. We learned yester
day that the new and amended pac
would be submitted by the league com
mission to a drafting committee. Le
us not be too quick to conclude that tn,
plan is ready to be given to the world.
I'm any case, so Par as the French
delegates are concerned, the league o,
nations must assure, first, an eficien
and constant control of German dis
armament; second, permanent inter
Allied commission, furnished with tht
power and provided with the means e
take Immediately the first necessar,
measures in case of violation of tn.
pact by any of the nations. If thia i,
not so, the league Of nations is fol
France only guarantee on paper, {
Platonic arrangement worse than moth
ing at ALL
Preliminary Peace