The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-04-08


III the land of Nippon. 4,t
Italy is tacitly behind ID Annunzios
of Fiume.
Poland has reached out for nieees of
Russian territory.
The Near East is tangle of British and |
French pretensions in Turkey and Syria. |
Germany's Socialist government claims |
her economic ruin is sought by France and |
unless it is permitted to put down the
revolt in the Ruhr valley, the monarch
zeal party will come back into power
Marshal Foch and the French generals
putting no stock in German pleas have
influenced Premier AIillerand and the
on the allied council of diplomats who
We're trying to ,dissuade France but to 90
ahead and take German territory first and
talk about it afterwards -
This summary of the world situation as
gathered IN official quarters here involves
no accusations against other governments
or nations of improper motive. Frances
| action iii occupying German cities is de-
plored but nevertheless thoroughly under
stood. President Wilson sees his charges
of militarism against the party now in
control of France as indicated by events.
But while the military have unquestion-
ably affected the views of the French for
eign Office, there is a disposition here
to regard the advice and action of the
French military as a natural and logical
outgrowth Of the policy of abandonment
of France which has been gradually
adopted involuntarily by the powers as
ISOLATED with her in the war.
The British people are sick Of war and
Prime Minister Lloyd George could prom
Use no military support to the French
move Moreover, large elements of Great
Britan's population notably the labor
party, believe the German Socialists are
right in their cry that the treaty is toe
harsh for the economic good Of the world
In America from whom the French eX
pected so much there is constantly dim
inishing interest in the fate OF France as
, evidenced by the indifference of the sen
ate toward the Franco American British
defensive agreement which President vii
son submitted to the senate nine months
ago and which has not even been reported
from the senate foreign relations commit
tee. Feeling that she can get no physical
help from the United States, France Is
taking matters in her own hand to pre-
vent trouble on her own frontiers.
Z But while there is a good deal of sym
patty with the plight of France, there
is nevertheless feeling that France is
not acting wisely for her own best inter
est and that by her action in occupying
German cities she will keep alive tho
germs of war and unrest in central Eu
trope, the rehabilitation Of which has beer
so earnestly sought to stabilize European
I and world finance.
But the French military are nervous
Promises and advice from America seen
10 mean nothing with a Germany at the
front gate and the French viewpoint i
that regardless of allied discussions ans
pledges, France must prepare to enforce
the treaty herself,
The foregoing line of reasoning is MOI
altogether peculiar to France. Others Il
the allied family, notably England AMI
Italy and now Japan in the Far Eas
are looking out for their own interests
There is no control compelling moral for
ces to say any nation nay The league o
nations was designed by President Wilson
to meet exactly the situation that ha
arisen. 1t was to negative any terntorIa
+ hBretensons or arbitrary Interpretation
OF the peace treaty Article ~ was
pledge to preserve territorial integrity
Had the United States and the council o
the league been functionlng, the question
would have required a unanimous vot
before France could have. acted in oc
cupying German territory Japan won
have been prevented from entering Nlad
vostok without consulting the allies AM
getting their consent Italy would hav
been hailed before the league OF nation
and required to expel D'Annunzio from
Fiume under penalty of economic boy
colt But none of these outbreaks on tn
part Of the allies themselves either i
Central Europe, the Near East or ia
East might have occurred if each of tn
associated powers had had more respec
for the league of nations. Their presen
attitude is convincing evidence of thei
lack of faith in any international concer
which lacks the physical and moral ba
ance of the United States.
So far as its effect upon our own GOV
ernment, Frances advance in to Germa
territory is deeply regretted.
1t serves to cool such enthusiasm tn
executive branch of the government her
had in supporting the tri-partite agree
ment with France and England whereof
the United States and England woul
come to the assistance of France in tn
event or an unbfoNoked dltdth IN We
many on France Republicans and Demo
Gratis look askance at the action of Franc
and wonder what Americas obligatio
might have been if the triple agreemer
were in effect at present when the Frenc
advance into German territory is blame
upon German insincerity in the Ruhr va
lev. Frances action probably seals tn
fate of the special Franco-American treat
| IL, Il
out Europe Of the undertaking get-wha
you-can nohcv which President Wilso
has predicted would eventually mea
chaos and more bloodshed in the world