The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-16
By FRANK n. SiMONDS

BY FRANK n. siMONDS
Like the League OF Nations, the
treaty guaranteeing France against
any new German aggression enters at
once into the domestic political contro-
versy, yet 1t Is essential that the
American public should at least know
the circumstances which surround its
inception and development. AS to the
French need of such a guarantee, the
fact that France has four times been
invaded by German armies In the last
hundred years is the best evidence.
Now actually what happened at
Paris during the Peace Conference
was this: Marshal Foch, speaking with
an authority not to be questioned any
where, speaking as a soldier as well
as a Frenchman, declared that France
could not be safe against German in
va sion unless the military frontier OF
| the republic was at the Rhine. There,
| and only there. was barrier which
in French hands would insure both
France and Belgium against a repeu-
ton of the events Of August. 1914.
| To this expert opinion President
Wilson took exception. French mill
| tary occupation Of the left bank Of the
Rhine was inconsistent with his four
teen points. In this contention the
George. Britain and the United
States, safe from all chance of a Ger
man invasion, separated by sea from
Germany and doubly insured by the
elimination of the German fleet, We
toed the decision of the grea test liv-
ing soldier and refused to France her
natural frontier.
The French then asked that some
sort Of sup ervision of German military
establishment be provided for in the
League of Nations. and that there
should be included in the League Of
Nations covenant, some provision that
in case Of German aggression against
France, all the nations In the League
should automatically declare war
against Germany Again Mr.. Wilson
objected and found British support.
Thus the second logical line of French
protection was abolished. In both
cases the sacrifice of French interests
was asked in the name of Mr.. Wilson s
League of Nations.
France Asks Assurance
A. consequence. France, in sur
rendering guarantees Of her own
choosing against German attack,
found herself obligated to ask of the
nations and statesmen, who had in
sisted upon the sacrifice, some assur-
duC0 against new IeTIndh 1uF2S)OI.
Obviously France alone could not de-
fend herself against Germany, if Ger
many were a ble without allied super
vision, to prepare such an invasion
and French armies were not permitted
to meet 1t at the Rhine barrier.
The French demand, then, was for
precisely the guarantee which Mr..
Wilson and Lloyd George have fur
nished in the tripartite agreement.
now under general discussion. In ef-
feet America and Britain, as repre-
sented in Paris, said to France: eff
you will resign your claim to your
natural military frontier. we will
pledge our respective countries to
come to your aid at once and to the
limit of our ability"
Without such pledge France could
not have accepted the terms Of peace,
as outlined in the Versailles document.
Had the Clemenceau cabinet failed to
obtain such substitute for the con-
ditions prescribed by Foch and en-
. dorsed by every soldier of standing in
the world, 1t would have fallen. In
; fact, only the announcement that such
a pledge had been obtained saved the
Clemenceau government, when it be-
came known that this government had
consented to Mr.. Wilson's demands.
, Now the whole treaty of peace with
Germany, SO far as France Is concern
: ed. is based upon the essential con-
dition that the United States and
Great Britain guarantee their protec-
ton and support to France, in case
France is attacked. We have, in eff.
feet. persuaded the French to consent
y to an arrangement of her eastern from
:, tiers, which will leave her open to
: know in advance, that such invasion
will bring them instantly into col
lision with the United States and
' Britain.
= France Will Feel Betrayal.
: If the United States now defaults
. if the senate now rejects the engage
= ment Of the president, II 1t declines to
E assure France Of the support of the
! president, if it declines to assure
France of the support the presiden,
y has promised, observe what the effect
!, will be. France will again be open
to invasion, she will be open to inva
\ sion because she has agreed to sur
= render her natural line of defense, al
!. the request of Britain and the United
: States on the express condition tha
both these countries promised her tc
> come to her assistance If the German