The sun., 1919-05-12
FRANCE EXPECTED
TO RATIFY TREATY
Calmer Reflection Inclines to
Belief Parliament Will
Accept Finally.
LONG DEBATE CERTAIN
Financiers Realize That Ger
many Is Unable to Pay
Full Cost Of War.

Copyright, 1919: all rights reserved.
PARIS. May (delayed) Second day
French opinion upon the peace treaty
general satisfaction. 1t is now quite
clear, as was indicated yesterday. that
the main opposition will come upon two
heads: lingering discomfort because the
treaty does not force Germany 20 defray
the entire cost Of the war TO France. and
from Socialists, because the treaty Is
generally too hard upon Germany, but
more specifically because they contend
that the decisions regarding tho Saar
Valley and Danyig violate the Wilson
principles of self-determination.
Tho feeling to-day Is generally tenn
pered by innate French caution. The
desire now Is expressed to see the full
text of the treaty; but, save among the
financial specialists of Parliament and
in Socialist circles, IL IL apparent that
the general feeling. both In the Cham
Der which now Is in session, and among
such Senator's as ane here (the Senate
being in recess), Is that the treaty will
be ratified following a debate In which
these two objections will be aired but not
pushed to dangerous lengths.
The feeling In financial circles Is
summed UP as quite favorable. The
most Intelligent French fnanciers real
lied some months ago that France could
not expect to recover from Germany the
full expenses OF the war. because the
Germans could not pay them. They point
out to-day that France is not left sad
died with such perma nent debt as some
lar tcta faH ~
Some Expenses Recoverable.
A fair proportion of the French war
debt represents loans to allies and dis
bursements which are recoverable.
though the remainder is important
enough to cause concern. Confidence 10
expressed that the same French indus
try frugality that amazed the world
after the war OF 1871, will again assert
itself Immediately when things settle
down.
The stock market remains generally
firm. The continual mounting of foreign
exchange IL ascribed to the embargo
| that Is taking place rather than because
Of the treaty. The M1tin this morning
| makes a strong effort to show THAT Par
| Lament will not ratify the financial
| clauses by a symposium OF financial ex-
I
president Of the Chamber Budget Com
mission. says
| Perhaps we shall have to ask $4,000,
ooc. 900 in taxes from French tax pay
ers. How shall we find them7'
Other members Of the Budget Commits
sion stress Frances heavy financial
charges. but the impression is inevitable
that underneath all this they realize
that France gets about all that reason
ably could be expected.
View of the Socialists.
The attitude OF the Socialist party is
plainly manifested this morning by Hu-
| mantle, the best known Socialist organ.
| which yesterday did not comment at all
on the treaty. 1t sounds the keynote.
echoed by other Socialist organs. that
the treaty contains the germs OF future
wars and thus fails to attain Presiden,
| Wilson's greatest popular aim. LAS for
| being a peace OF Justice" Humdnite
says. "even the blindest know to-day
that II 10 in reality only a peace OF vio-
lence. Imperialism and iniQuity.''
On the subject of the Saar Valley
Humontt6 says: THE clauses relative &c
the Saar Valley are the most crimina
part Of the treaty. We hope the Ger
mans Of the Saar will have enough hero.
corruption and will keep intact theil
national sentiment. With all our
strength We will aid them and support
them in their struggle as we will support
all suppressed peoples
While Socialists newspapers imply &
rather than voice 1t, a prominent French
Socialist. said TO THE Sun correspondent
to-day that the French Socialists hat
lost their last remaining vestige Of trus
In President Wilson.
''The treaty has been great disap
pointment to u.s. he said. ct shows
that the President has permitted Pre-
mier Clemenceau to win a victory owe,
him. He had not the strength to stand
out against the decisions on the Saal
and Danzig. The whole treaty reduce:
Germany to virtual slavery. and GER
tainly is contrary to the fourteen
points"