New-York tribune., 1920-04-13
The End of an Alliance
By Frank H. Sinlonds

anIee0 heT oy the treaty OF NerSallles,
face ethe ruin which the loss of the
German reparations implies, and the
peril which unshaken German mill
taristic control insures, or act alone.
In choosing to act alone the French
still hoped that British support would
be forthcoming. They were mistaken.
They know now that henceforth they
can place no reliance upon their Brit
ish ally, whose interests are hence
forth rather with German than French
rehabilitation. They have known Cor
long time that President Wilson was
hostile. AS for Italy, year ago in
Paris the Italians served notice upon
the French that if Clemenceau sup
ported Wilson instead of Orlando in
the matter Of Fiume Italy might be
reckoned henceforth as an enemy. The
pledge has been made good, but Amer-
cans should recognize the cause Of
the Italian opposition to France-it is
one of the logical consequences of Mr..
Wilson'S policy in Paris.
Germany Rejoices
For Germany the British decision is
the most favorable circums mstance since
the close of the war 1t amounts to q
frank advertisement of the fact tina.
the British will not help the French
to support the Treaty of Versailles. 1t
amounts to a clear declaration that the
British are unconcerned with the
domination of Germany by the old
militaristic crowd. 1t is, in effect, a
plain intimation that British SYM
pathy is with Germany and not with
France henceforth, that future re-
fusals on the part of the Germans to
comply with the Treaty of Versailles
will not disturb London as much as
French attempts to insure the perform
ance of the duties imposed by that doc
ument
1t is difficult to exaggerate the ex-
tent of the dsillusionment this Brit
ish course will create. France will not
unnaturally feel herself deserted by
her associates, particularly by her
British ally at the moment when the
maximum of British profit has been
safely banked and the French profit,
which amounts to no more than partial
reparation for French losses, is still
uncollected.
Where Is BIucher?
What the French course will be re-
mains problematical. French finance
still is in no condition to undertake a
separate policy; is, in fact, in a large
measure at the mercy Of British and
American, which declines to assist but
retains the vast power to coerce. On
the other hand, it is not less plain that
If France now submits to British pol
icy she must see the last hope expire
Of obtaining either indemnity or Sc
curity; she must expect to be made the
sacrifice for British and American COM
mercial interests or domestic political
exigencies.
In the present bitter hour not a few
Frenchmen will, quite instinctively, re-
call that we are now only at the second
anniversary of the period when French
armies, having saved the British from
ruin at the Somme in Ludendorff's s
Picardy attack, were beginning to move
north to restore the British fortunes
again shaken by the German attack in
Flanders. We are at the second ami
versary of Haig's famous appeal to his
army, fighting with it's back to the
WALL" of Maurice's memorable query,
"Where is Blucher?" Foch answered
that inquiry the next day, when De
Mitry's French army took position
south Of Ypres and closed the gap. But
where is Blucher now?
Copyright, 1920. by tho Mcclure News-
paper Syndicate)