The Washington herald., 1920-04-18
TARDIEU HITS
ATPESSIMTSM
Declares War Gains Of
France Far Greater Than
Her Losses.
COUNTRY IS NOT DEAD
Now Leads World in Pro-
Z duction Of Iron Ore
And Brass.
COUNTRY IS NOT DEAD

Paris, April 1f.-Andre Tardieu Is
getting in some body blows on the
French public in an effort to cure
il of its chronic pessimism and In
cidentally to offset the bad impress
sion that prevails in foreign coun-
tries as a result Of this tendency OF
the French always to see every
thing at the worst.
Just to demonstrate that France
isn't dead and buried yet, Tardieu
has given the French public a COM
liabilities resulting from the war.
) The net result demonstrates pretty
clearly even to pessimistic
. Frenchman that even IL Germany
: isn't going to pay back all that
France is entitled to as a result OF
the war. France nevertheless hasn't
, come out of the conflict and the
peace conference stark naked.
. Tardieu's comparison of French
liabilities and assets resulting from
the war is as follows:
what Victory Cost.
First of all we have suffered
a terrible reduction of human force
in orr 1850, 900 killed or disappear
ed: 100000 mutilated; 5000. 900
wounded. Our male population from
10 to so years totaling 9,33o,0oo men
was modified to the extent of SO
per cent while the youth of the na-
ton comprising the classes from 1s
to "a years was moved down to the
extent of 81 per cent.
Secondly, France has incurred
a crushing financial burden. In
1914 France had an annual budget
of expenses of five and a half billion
francs and a debt of $4,000. 900. 900
francs. In fiye years she was oblig-
ed to pay out zoo, 900. .o00, 900 francs
and that at a time when her terri
tory was amputated of ten depart
ments that before the war paid 20
per cent of the national expenses.
There was also a heavy decrease
of our capital: 100000 buildings de-
stroyed; the complete industrial
ruin of a region that in 1913 pro-
duced "a per cent of our wool: 80
= per cent of our linen and iron ore
s3 per cent of our brass: 70 per cent
OF our sugar; 55 per cent of our
coal. In addition our railways ow-
ing to war use showed a deficit Of
two billion francs; our wheat pro-
duction decreased two-thirds; our
merchant marine had 80 per cent of
its tonnage sunk. while our impor-
tations exceeding by 20,ooo,000. 900
francs our expectations the franc
reached its present low rate OF for
eign exchange.
That is what victory cost US.
sWhat Victory Has Paid.
But this is what victory has paid
France now possesses the nrst
III
ly, security. With Germany dimin-
ished by S,000.0 inhabitants, with
out eonscription, without a general
star, with an army of only 1000
men, without heavy artillery, with
out aviation, without tanks. with
only 2Ss heavy guns as against the
the 5000 she had; with her military
frontier forced back to so kilo-
meters behind the Rhine-and that
occupied by us-and being Obliged
as she Is at all times to submit to
Investigations as to the armaments
We have at last attained security
IN addition France possesses new
elements of national wealth; first
Alsace and Lorraine free of all
debts with their great Industrial
wealth-their hydraulic power, their
vast fields of potash; secondly, the
Sarre valley mines; thirdly. Morocco
liberated; fourthly. French Congo
reconstructed; ffthly, the French
Cameroun colonies and sixthly, the
French Togo colonies. Frances pro-
duction of iron ore and brass has
been Increased by 100 per cent
France now leads the world fol
iron production and is second In
the world for the production OF
brass and steel. Her textile produc.
ton has been increased by IS pei
cent"