The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-01
FUTURE SAFETY
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that the French. after four invasions
in century are resolved that II there
Is q fifth invasion 1t shall begin al
the Rhine and not at the Moselle OF
the Sambre; that the opening phase
of q new German aggression shall
take place In German and not French
territory. II the league Of nations
shall become world force that many
hope. these precautions will prove un.
necessary. II It fails these precau.
lions will stand, and with four invas.
ions in their minds It Is difficult to
criticize the French purpose.
Now, in addition. there is the ques.
ton Of the Saar Coal district. I have
frequently described this question to
my readers, but revert to it again to
complete the statement of the French
policy. The region itself is a very
restricted area, two or three hundred
square miles at most. It produces
some seventeen million tons Of coal a
year.
1t belonged to France wholly up to
1914, but even after the first abdica-
ton of Napoleon portion still re-
NAMED to France, and 1t was not un-
her way and seized the whole coal
ulSlIiCl, JUST dS Suc tOUh luc lTOU UlS.
trict In 1871.
Wreck Whole District.
Argument for the Saar coal district
Is not based merely or mainly upon
ancient title. Last year when the
Germans found they were not going
to be able permanently to hold the
French coal district of Lens, they
systematically and completely wreck
ed mines and machinery. they dyna-
mited houses. and they transformed
the whole district into an almost
hopeless desert.
Their purpose was to make France
dependent upon Germany for coal, to
cripple French industry to the profit
Of Germany; and II the treaty of Paris
fails to award France compensation
in the shape Of coal, the German OBJ.
ject will have been achieved.
France asks therefore the frontiers
OF 1914, rather than those of 1870, as
an act Of Justice, both because of an
cient stealing and Of contemporary
destruction. andso far as know there
Is no criticism of her purpose among
the British or among Americans in
France.
Not Imperlalistie
So much for the European phase Of
the French purpose. l repeat that
they do not think Of imperialistic pur-
poses. They are anxious to prevent a
repetition of the past. 1t is very hard
to give to Americans who have lived
in peace and with no accurate picture
of devastated France, real understand
ing of French emotion at the present
time. France has just escaped a ter
rible disaster which would have
meant approximate national destruc-
ton.
For nearly half century the French
people have existed under the shadow
Of German threat. 1t still seems only
yesterday that German shells were fall
ling In Paris, and the sky was lighted
at night with the flares OF German
guns. 1t Is only few months since
the arrival of German troops in Paris
was believed inevitable. The greatest
apprehension is over. but not easily
do men and women forget perils so
recent, which are again only repeti-
tons of past history.
II Is this element which influences
French idealism and French aspira-
ton at the present hour 1t is this
grim fact that compels the mass Of
thoughtful Frenchmen to examine the
League Of Nations with suspicion
which is easily interpreted as hostility.
which II Is not.
Cannot Afford Gamble
The rest OF the world can we'll af-
ford to gamble in the matter OF the
League Of Nations. The French can
not afford to take any chance, and
che limitations imposed upon them by
their recent history and by all their
history are easily translated into a re-.
visal of Chauvinism, thereby doing
France very great injustice.
Turning now to the French view OF
questions outside of Europe. much is
to be heard In Paris today as to
French designs upon Syria. The sit
ration Is complicated. Before Ameri.
ca came into the war, France and
England had mutually agreed upon a
division of that part of the Turkish
empire between the Gulf of Alexan-
dretta and Suez.
, In this division there was allotted
to France the region of which Bey.
routh is the port and Damascus the
most considerable city. Included in 1t