The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-20
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 30, 1919.
THE FEARS OF FRANCE.

The league of nations and the COW
enants of its constitution are coldly re
ceived by the Paris press. The comment
in all probability reflects the public |
sentiment of France, both within and
without official circles The distrust is |
due most largely to the fear that the
league as constituted will not be a
safeguard and protection against future
aggressions by Germany The attitude
of France needs to be reviewed with
sympathetic understanding. She has
been the chief sufferer from the inhu
man conduct of ,-tlrp-Tfuns and her
wounds are still bleeding. 1t is most
natural that she should want to be
made absolutely secure against the rep
etition Of these wrongs from the same
hands She feels herself unable to
sustain the burden of protection alone,
for in protecting herself she is also
protecting western civilization on
whose frontier she stands. To this sort
of feeling may be ascribed the prefer
ence for a more specific alliance of
certain nations, after the old precedent
Of balance of power, which Premier
! Clemeneeau has publicly expressed on
many occasions and which has been
made much of as indicating that quite
serious difference had arisen between
| Premier Clemenceau and President Viii
SON Premier Clemenceau and with him
all France would undoubtedly have felt
more secure and would have been better
satisfied with hard and fast alliance
between the United States, Great
Britain, France, Italy and possibly
Japan, in wh'"l each would have been
bound to concerted action in the
mutual interest, tie interest of one be-
ing the interest of all.
While the peculiar position of France
can he appreciated it is quite probable
that by the very nature of that posi-
ton. her statesmen and publicists are
unable to view the league of nations in
proper perspective. 1t is possible that
with further examination and refec.
ton, there will come better under
s.; nding of the purpose of the league
aal the efficacy of its covenants to &C.
cg@pli-h that which. France wished &c
have accomplished Through the means
0: he narrower alliance which she has
al ocated. The broader league is in
elusive of the narrow alliance, which
in ITSELF contains all those elements
which have been grouped under th'
term, balance Of power" The tern
on account of its disagreeable remem
lr;nces is now studiously avoided, but
We do not suppose that anybody in hi,
thought about the league of nations i!
oblivious TO the fact that its potency il
ia the association of the five nations
which have formed The supreme council
Of the peace congress. 1t is this associ
axiom which makes the league of ma
tions a tangible reality, and not merel,
I TIL. vague formulation of the baseles
fabric of dream.
Even France, anxiously concerne'
and rightly so for her own securit.
ard protection, can hardly be Statistic,
| with the results of the old form 0
| alliances between the nations on tn
: continent of Europe The history o
/ Europe for the past century shows tina
| to depend on an alliance is to lea
i iufon a broken reed In order to protec
/ herself from Germany, France entere,
\ into an alliance with Russia In tn
H triple alliance between Germany, Aus
| Hungary and Italy, Germany wa