Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-24
'ALL|ES PLANNED
| TO ACCEPT c. 0.P.
LEAGUE CHANGES
U. S. Storm Over Grey Letter
Prevented Official French
and British Action.
PARIS HAS NO FAITH
| IN EXISTING COVENANT
Will Work for Always Desired
Straight Treaty of Alliance, New
Ambassador Here Hinted.
BY PERTINAx.

'"' .aoie 10 The Star. Copyright, 1920
PARIS. October 2s-I feel it neces-
sary to state precisely for America
'he attitude of France with regard
10 the league of nations as If is ~
present constituted. I do so with a.
certain satisfaction because be,.taa
American newspapers and te1e1r.,,
oin journalistic associates in Amer
ica Indicate a general misunderstand-
ing there upon the subject. can
set aside forever the statement ca
positively made in the United stat.s
that France approached Senator
aaroing' the republican nominee for
tne presidency, with view to let.
ting him know that in course of time
she would agree to any amendment
OF the covenant which America might
recommend. Such a step could not
oe taken officially as long as Presi-
oeht wilson remained in the Ai,eri-
can White Hoase.
But as the result of this comnuIsorv
retlcence the position of the French
government must not be misundar-
stood. French opinion actually does
not trust in the league. which it con-
siders powerless. and even obnoxious
1eellng that it certainly makes more
dlmcult the realization of those nm
derstandings and concrete alliances
between state and state which France
feeis that she needs if her sensation
OF security in Europe is to be made
positive.
Accepted League Unwiuinely.
France accepted the league unwill-
ingly last year because it was repre.
sented by President Wilson and
Premier Lloyd George as the onIy
means available for bringing her into
| active cooperation with Britain and
America
And here Is q bit of information
which I fancy has not been konwn
generally in the United States, even
in official circles: At the beginning
of the present year France and Brit
ain even went so far as to contem-
plate the publication of a statement
making it clear that they entertained
no hostility toward the idea of those
amendments which were favored by
the republican majority of the
American Senate. Viscount Grey
strongly advised this step in conver-
sations with Premier Clemenceau.
and his suggestion was accepted by
the French leader. 1 have the highest
authority for the declaration that the
famous letter published by viscount
Grey in the London Times was in
tended to prepare the British public
whence come objection was expected.
for the formal document which was
to be issued shortly afterward.
The letter had the expected effect
in Britain, but in America it apused
such a storm of partisan applause
on one side and partisan vituperation
on the other that the French ana
British cabinets, which had post
poned their action temporarily be-
cause of the fall of Clemenoea0,
abandoned it altogether. The new
French ambassador who will be sent
to the United States next year (the
appointment of Monsieur Jusserand
to a European embassy now may be
considered probable) win be in
structed to accept with regard to the
league Of nations the standpoint of
the American republican party, while.
of course, doing his utmost to OBJ
tain, If possible. ratification of a
treaty of alliance.
Clear Indications Seen.
There are clear indications that
tendencies in this direction already
are at work in the French govern
ment. For instance, if France valued
SO highly the completion of treaty
with Belgium that in order to make
it possible she was willing to comply
to such an extent with British exigen-
cies it was because she regarded article
X as too vaguely drafted and too uni
versal in it's scope to be really eff
cient. Moreover, France SO far has
abstained from carrying out indis-
such stipulations of the
covenant as she thought might en-
danger her freedom of action in the
future. She takes care not to expose
herself directly or indirectly to the
charge Of breaking her pledged word
but moves slowly when on such diff
fcult ground and tries to reconcile
the PROVISIONS OF the covenant with
her own national interest and that
which she has come to regard as the
best interests of the world at large.
In that frame of mind she has re-
Trained from forwarding to the gen
eral secretary of the league of nations.
to be put into the league of nations
treaty book, the conventions she has
signed since the enforcement of the
Versailles treaty. Britain, which has
sent to this official no less than six
teen treaties signed under similar
made objections last
month to this French course in a for
NAL note, but even in view of this the
French omissions will be made good
within certain limits only.
Opposed to Disposition.
It therefore becomes obvious that
the amendments to the league of ma
tions treaty and covenant which seem
to be SO very definitely desired by the
people of the United States will bring
relief and not chagrin to France.
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