The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14

recent election, as a mere matter OF Sentl-
ment, excites general French satisfaction,
for the simple reason that Mr.. Wilson was
never sympathetic with France. He did not
understand French sentiment, French his
tory, French tradition. His refusal to go to
the devastated areas, because. was ex-
planned for him, he desired to preserve a
calm mind in dealing with the questions
coming up at Paris produced a profound
impression, actually destroyed his brief
popularity in France.
Moreover, in the main, Mr.. Wilson was
disclosed all through the Paris Conference
standing with the British against France
Before he left France Mr.. Wilson had lost
all French admiration, he retained only a
certain measure of French gratitude for the
promptness with which he had despatched
American troops in 1918, after the British
defeats of March and April, and his League
of Nations programme had French appro-
baton only in so far as it's fate would decide
that of the Anglo French American treaty
of guarantee.
Now, after election, French policy, French
purpose is quite as apparent as British
France does not care one red cent about the
League of Nations, qua league. France
hoped, however. that the result of the cleo
ton would insure the preservation of the
treaty of insurance. France hopes, and
takes comfort in President-elect Hardng's
citation with Mr.. Herrick, forever loved in
France because of his attitude in the dark
days of August and September, 1914. that
Mr.. Harding will in some form, and the form
does not signify. extend to France that guar
antee which Mr.. Wilson offered but the
Senate failed to honor. ar
From the French point of view that guar
antee was paid for in advance by France.
French sacrifices on the Rhine, in the Sarre
agreement, represent to the French mind
the sacrifice of French security against new
German attack and never would have been
made had not President Wilson offered in
exchange that Anglo French American
agreement which has now shared the fate
of the covenant of the League of Nations
itself French public opinion, the whole
French people, look to Mr.. Harding now
hopefully, but their hope is comprehended in
the statement that France desires American
support against attacks, for which
France paid President Wilson in advance
One thing more France hopes passion
ately namely, that in any new association
of nations such as Mr.. Harding may seek
to establish and for which France in adj
vance offers her heartest support Ameri-
can policy. so far from joining with British
in championing unrepentant Germany and
Bolshevist Russia, will stand with France
in insistence upon the integrity of the Treaty
of Versailles so far as the German terms
are concerned and equally with France
against a recognition of the Red regime of
Russia, which means for France the defni-
tive loss of the milliards lent to Russia In
past decades, the moneys Of the peasants.
Germany Hopes We May Become Her
Champion.
AS for Germany, for patent reasons she
welcomes the Wilson defeat because il
helps out the promise of ultimate American
ain. Germany at least hopes that we shall
now proceed to lend our support to reducing
the sums she has to pay for devastating
France, that we shall become the German
champion in the new association of nations.
which Mr.. Harding will advocate and in
which she expects the admission denied her
so far in the old league.
AS for Italy and the minor Powers, one
may question whether the American election
will excite hopes or fears, to any extent.
They know from recent experience that they
cannot expect American aid in case of at
tack, they have discovered that only by
their own force can they realize their ma
tional aspirations. While in the presence OF
force the Great Powers have so far b EN-
quiescent, Rumania has Bessarabia, Poland
her new eastern frontier, Greece eastern
Thrace in the face of American veto. oi open
or covert opposition from other Great
Powers.
For the small Powers the League of Ma
tons is already an exploded dream. AS il
was operated at Paris, this combination of
Great Powers was unfriendly and even
brutal in it's dealings with the small nations.
and on the Paris precedent they had little
to hope from it in the future.
After all, the real question raised by the
election results has but two aspects, the
British and the French.
At Paris we backed the British against
the French and the British prevailed. When
we came home a deadlock resulted Both
nations look eagerly to Mr.. Harding in the
hope he will break the deadlock in their
vene on behalf of either his intervention will
be decisive.
But, as a last word, it must be transparent
that neither Great Britain nor France is
primarily interested in an association of
nations to preserve world peace, but OBJ
viousy and necessarily Britain seeks to
preserve an Anglo American association
which at Paris dominated world affairs to
British satisfaction, while France seeks to
obtain Franco-American understanding
which shall preserve for France the slender
rewards of her colossal sacrifices in the
world war. now 'imperilled by British policy.
and beyond that, IL possible, an American
guarantee of the Rhine barrier, for which
she paid President Wilson in advance at
Paris, only to see his promise rejected by
his ellow-countrymen.
This amounts to saying that with the
election returns in hand Europe is specuat-
will prove pro-British, pro-French, pro-Ger-
hat he A,.,.o Ia.