South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-02
NewS-Times and Associated NewSpa-
perS Correspondent

of coal year It belonged to France wholly 10
10 1914 but after the abdication OF Napo-
leon portion still remained France. not
until after Waterloo that Prussia had her way arc
seized the whole coal district just she took Tic
Argument for the saar coal district is not basel
merely or mainly upon ancient title. Last year whe1
the Germans found they not going 10 be abb
permanently to hold the French coal district OF Lens
they Systematically completely wrecked mines and
machinery. they dynamited houses and they trans
FORMED the whole district into an almost hopeles7
desert. Their purpose was to make France dependent
Germany fer coal. cripple French industry u
the profit OF Germany and II the treaty OF Paris fa5
TO award France compensation in the shape of coal
the German object Will have been achieved
ASKS FRONTIERS OF
1914 AS MATTER OF JUSTICE
France therefore the frontiers o. 1914 rather
than those Of 1870 as an act OF justice both because
of stealing and OF contemporary destruction,
and so far as know there is no criticism OF her pu-
pose among the British among Americans IN France.
SO much for the European phase of the French pur-
pose repeat that they do not think OF imperalist;
purposes They anxious prevent a repetition az
the past 1t is hard to Americans who haN.
hVed In peace ana with no accurate picture oil 0eFase
Franco, real understanding of French emotion tn
time. France has just escaped a terrible dis
aster which would have meant approximate national
destruction. For nearly half century the French
people have existed under the shadow OF German
threat II still seems ONLY YESTERDAY that German
shells falling Paris sky lighted
night with the flash OF guns IL is only
few months since the arrival of .a~nan troops ia
Paris believed inevitable. The greatest apr
hension is over but not easily do and women fol-
get perils so recent which again only repetition
French ideasm and French aspiration the presen-
hour. 1t is this grim fact that comDels the o.
thoughtful Frenchmen TO examine the League of Ma
lons with susplelon Whlch Is easily interpreted IS
hostility. which it is not The rest OF the world can
well afford to gamble in the matter of the League ot
Nations The French cannot afford to take chanc
and the limitations imposed upon them by their
history and by All their history are easily translate
into reVisal of Chauvinism, thereby doing Fran.
very great injustice
Turning now to French view Of questions outsio,
Of Europe. much is TO be heard in Paris today
French designs Eyra~ The situation Is comrIi-
Before America the war. Franc.
and England had mutually agreed division 60
that part Of the Turkish empire between The Gulf ~
Alexandretta and Suez. In this division there VS.
allotted to France the region OF which 8cyrouth IS
the port and Damascus the most considerable cit.
know the near east know that this has been for CEN
turtles of French culture French nfIuen,..
and in of cultural propaganda. In this region.
France has considerable economic interest, irclu--
ing of the railways
Under the dspensation which undertake. 30
cognze the desires OF various nationaes, IT IS no'
urged without force that Syria should be permittc
TO constitute itself into separate state of the elect 10
become portion Of the somewhat imagnery kingdom
Of Hedjaz In fact, and is urged that France shou
failure OF France sacrifice conyicts the
French of old-fashioned colonial imperialism
CLAIM TO SYRIA
Is SENTIMENTAL ONE.
The claim of France to syria is sentimental as wen
economic. but such Information ] gather
believe that strongly France
reviews French claims the syrian question viii not .o
permitted to break up concord between the various
would support military expedition Couqu.r
Syria, nor political quarrel with their present ALI
Syria
There is a very considerable possibility thar tie
6yrans themselves. left themselves part.
might elect French protectorate vague or
wholly different from military occupation and II tbs
happen. 7 think PEOPLE should
recognized; but far aggressive colonial cam
paign for Syria is concerned do not think it viii take
place.
question the African colonies OF Germany
is vitality interesting the French the
British. France, under her arrangement with Great
Britain would normally receive part Of Togo and an
of CAMERON but ii is my judgment that the French
vastly less concerned the possible return
Germany Of Central African colonies than the Brit.
ish, whom German West Africa is "a tie
of South Africa, and German East Africa
standing threat the road India.
the way there is pronounced French d.
the Spanish evicted frons Africa.
where their preoarious position in Morocco menacs
alike TO Spain and to France. a source OF endless
and no benefit; but here aain French purpose
is expressed desire purchase spain
administer purchased the Philippine FROM
the nation.
MOOD Is CONSEQUENCE
OF FOUR YEARS OF WAR.
Such in brief is = summary Of the french view -
peace conference. far as concerns rnateri-l
things. I 7 could emphasize that It's
mood Of France in insisting upon material as well -
physical guarantees against German
inevitable OF the last fous years.
cities her desoate fields her popua-
ton, France a threat OF German invasion.
For her greatest task Is 10 make the aprene tragedy
unlikely again. She seek occupy the lct.
bank Of the Rhine. she does strive provide that
Geramn invasion shall start ~ the Rhine and
across il. IN the heart OF her end Belan il
dustral districts No other the nations tire
concerns, NJ ono tIe great nations
ferences asks the nations that tard-
recognized that their fate was linked r win her -
Join aer in taking material and physical suarantee5
against a return Of the barbarian.
To Americans. this seems chauyinistlc To
others. incredible thing that the French
hesitate 10 accept the moral assurance heli y the
League OF Nations and display apprehension that Whist