Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-11
FRANCE RESOLVED
T0GUARD HERSELF,
COME WHAT MAY
Advance Into Ruhr Valley a
Last Resort, Contention
of "Pertinax."
DENIES LEAGUES POWER
TO INvALIDATE TREATY
Sees Herself Deserted by Late Al
lies, But Remains Unshaken
in Purpose.
BY PERTINAx.
(Henri Geraud. Editor of L'Echo de Paris.

(Henri Geraud Editor of L'Echo de Parts)
tBy cable to The Star. Copyright. 19o0)
PARIS. April 10.-The situation in
that portion of the world recently
the theater of the great war, and
more lately looked at with hopeful
eyes wishing to consider it the area
of the new peace. has become des-
perately tangled
He would be bold man who would
venture positive predictions as to the
ultimate outcome of the complica-
tion precipftated by that procedure
of Germany in the Ruhr valley which
made necessary the dispatch of
French troops to the region for the
purpose of maintaining the condi-
tions imposed by the treaty of YER
sailles and protecting France from
immediate and future dangers of
great magnitude. 1t may as well be
said at once that it is the judgment
of Frenchmen expert in things as
they actually are that III taking
steps toward self-protection France
also has taken steps toward the pro-
lection of the worlds future tran
guilty.
Facing a Serious Crisis.
No longer can it be doubted that 4
a serious crisis in the European al
liances Of France is now in progress.
France has done that which obviously
has been necessary for her own pro-
lection, and has not been given the
full. free and immediate support Of
those by whose side she fought and
with whom 1t had been hoped her
relations through long era Of peace
would be those of a cooperation rs
close as that which obtained durinE
the years of fighting. The scheme OF
the league of nations has been shak-
| ing the foundations of these alliances
of France during more than a year,
and now it is more and more the fear
OF thoughtful Frenchmen that they
may crumble under the strain which
various events have put upon them
by the enforcement of the Versailles
treaty with regard to the Ruhr basin.
Obviously, there is a definite con-
fict between the French assumption.
with regard to the significance Of the
treaty negotiated at the peace con-
3
French assumption was that the
league of nations would be available
at any moment to overcome any
power endeavoring to violate the
principles Of the agreement or max
ing difficulties. The English policy
succeeded, however, in avoiding any
British pledge to assist France in
eventually compelling Germany to
carry out the provisions of the treaty.
Consequently, when French national
interests as defined under the treaty
were challenged by Germany. as oc-
Cured last week, the natural ten
dency of the British cabinet in Lon
don was to adopt an Independent at
titude and to shun the assumption OF
direct responsibility. This was done
through the recommendation OF con-
cessions by France.
Signs Of Estrangement.
This is only one more sign of that
progressive estrangement among the
leading nations of the entente which
has been perceptible upon many oc-
casions. One instance of previous
hints that such an estrangement has
been growing occurred q few days
ago, when the British vote in the
council interrupted the commercial
negotiations started by France with
the cooperation of Belgium and Italy
and designed to lessen the unfavora-
BILE consequences to trade In those
three countries. which already had be-
gun to make themselves apparent as
the result of the decision of the su-
preme economic council, issued last
December. that Germany should be
entitled to payment of exact values
calculated upon an actual gold basis
of all custom duties charged to i'm
portations. The effect of this meas
ure was a discrimination in favor of
England, where the pound sterling
has suffered in comparison with gold
a depreciation much less marked than
that of the French franc or the
Italian Ira.
But the conflict of interests be-
tween England and France nowhere
Is as evident as in the state of affairs
created by the dispatch of the German
troops of the reichswehr into the
neutral zone and the consequent in
fringement Of articles AZ and A of the
peace treaty.
Millerand Makes Choice.
This infringement 1t was impossi-
BILE, because of perfectly vital rea-
sons, for the French government to
tolerate in inaction and. therefore. last
Saturday afternoon at ESQ o'clock,
Just before making the momentous de-
cision to give Foch a free hand to
curb the German advance. Premier
Millerand made a significant remark.
not hitherto quoted, saying: MY
choice lies between two kinds Of en-
barrassment, inherent to the pursuit
Of a weak policy on the one side.
while a firm policy has been followed
on the other. I have decided that 1
will choose the policy OF frmness."
That the difficulties inevitable to
the adoption Of the weak policy to
which he referred would have been