El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-22
block the French desire for the
REfun barrier


Rhine barrier.
Moreover. because Of the mainte-
nance Of sea supremacy, Britain has
not been invaded in centuries.
The French Viewpoint
The United States has escaped all
foreign incursion, save in the case
Of the British in the war Of 1872,
largely because no European nation
has had adequate bases for such an
operation in 1855, when Napoleon
III was seeking TO establish Maxi
milan in Mexico. the United states
interviewed peremptorily and the re-
suit was the execution Of Macmillan
and the collapse Of the Napoleonic
scheme.
Now in the century between 1914
and 1914 the French have been in
vaded by the Prussians and Germans
four times. Each invasion has been
marked by the seizure OF French ter
ritory. half the Sarre Basin in 1914,
the other half in 1915, Alsace-Lor-
raine in 1871 and finally, in 1914 the
Germany plans envis2ged torciole an
neLation Of everything from the
Briey Basin 70 the Channel ports, all
France north Of the Somme and east
Of the Meuse. including the fortified
barrier from Nerdun 10 Belfort-
Predatory German Attacks
The attacks Of 1870 and Of 1914
were entirely unprOvoked and purely
predatory. Further than this, from
1871 to 1918 France has existed in
hourly peril as a result Of German
menace, which was translated into
German invasion and devastation in
August 1914 AS consequence
France came TO the peace conference,
seeking, as a guarantee against new
attacks and new devastations, that
Rhine barrier, which marshal Foch
and every other soldier OF prominence
from the days OF Caesar regarded as
the single insurance against Ieu-
tonic invasions-
The French were told that the
league of nations was e sure guar
antee against German aggression.
But when the French sought 10
clothe the league Of nation with real
power. by providing il with an ac-
tive army, both the United States
and Great Britain emphasized their
objections by promptly Withdrawing
the great bulk Of their armies. which
had been serving in France, leaving
the burden Of the task TO France
stin the French did not and could
not yield and the president finally
agreed TO that treaty OF insurance
by which the United States and
Great Britain promised 70 defend
France, II Germany attempted a new
invasion. Then the French dropped
the Rhine barrier claim. but con-
Gnued in accordance with the treaty
provisions TO hold the Rhine as a
surety OF German performance.
France aHOIdInE the Bag
Now a situation has arisen In
which the treaty Of Insurance has
practically expired There is no hope
OF its endorsement in the United
States and British approval was con-
ditioned on American acceptance.
Thus the thing taken by the French
as a substitute no longer exists.
Moreover British and American
armies have been demobilized so
rapidly that there is no longer any
resource for prompt re
enforcement Of the French. even II
the United States and Britain, with
out treaty obligation. should decide TO.
20 70 French assistance, in the face
Of a new German attack
Finally, and the circumstances Is
Of major Importance the Germans
are not performing the contract ac-
cepted by them under the treaty and
the failure 10 perform, was reco-
gnized as warranting the extension
OF French occupation Of the Rhine
barrier.
Therefore the situation comes
down to 1hiss Frances allies
have failed 10 make good the
guarantee, which France nc-
cepted rs n substitute for the