New-York tribune., 1920-03-13
frances Just Indignation

The French press properly re-
sents President Wilson's statement
20 the effect that France is to-day
controlled by "a militaristic party"
For the Presidents "intolerant and
tempestuous wanderings," as writer
in LIE Petit Bleu calls them, are, of
course, discounted in France as the
manifestations Of petulant spirit
put on edge by disappointments and
illness, but the French cannot ex-
cuse the President for describing
them as "militaristic," a most op-
probrious word in the Wilson vocabu-
larry, because Of the measures Of
self protection which they have been
forced to consider as a result of the
failure Of promises Mr.. Wilson made
TO them.
1t is the inequitableness of Mr..
Wilson's attitude which the French
find most Calling. In the peace con-
ference France sought, above all
other things, definite guarantees
against renewal of German aggres-
sion. The terrible lessons Of the
war would go for naught if the
eastern frontier were left exposed
again to the attack Of Germany.
Foch, the deepest student Of Frances
defensive needs, asked for a defen-
sive barrier against German in
vasion.
This barrier was denied to France,
and Frances position on her eastern
frontier may easily be, generation
hence, almost as weak as it was in
1870 or in 1914. Foch dealt with
actualities. But because of Mr.. Will
sons opposition to the Foch plan
OF defense Clemenceau abandoned
the Foch program. He accepted in
lieu of it the draft of a tripartite
treaty of alliance. which provided
that Great Britain and the United
States were to go to Frances aid in
case Of unprovoked aggression by
Germany. 1t was a bargain in which
the substance of a military guaranty
was given up for the shadow. Great
Britain couldn't save France from
invasion in 1914. Neither could the
United States have saved her from
1t. Would one or both of them he
able to save her under the uncer
tain conditions Of the future?
Clemenceau excused himself to his
countrymen by exhibiting Mr.. Will
sons signature to the triple alliance
contract. But that contract has
been buried from sight for more
than eight months. The President.
mas shown no interest in it's fate.
The French can see no signs of it's
acceptance by the United States.
They consequently feel that Clemen-
ceau blundered into a one-sided ex-
change. That feeling undoubtedly
contributed in part to the 'Tiger's"
defeat for the Presidency.
Now France is compelled to do
what she can to rectify what she
thinks was Clemenceau's error. She
hears President Wilson talking about
withdrawing completely from the
sffairs Of Europe unless his solution
OF the Adriatic problem is accepted.
II ne threatens to recall the German
treaty he may also threaten to re.
call the French treaty. But the
French hold that he has no right
to retire from European affairs. He
ihtervened last May in. q matter
vitally affecting Frances securitv.
He compelled a rewriting even Of
the convention for the temporary
occupation Of the Rhineland. So
France sees in the Hitchcock letter
evidence that the President is ready
to forget his pledge and to wash
his hands Of any and all obligations
70 guarantee French security.
Mr.. Wilson's Paris critics can't be
blamed. They are touched to the
quick by the brutality Of the charge
that France, the chief victim Of the
war. has become "nilitaristic." when
Mr.. Wilson's unredeemed assurances
alone have compelled her to resume
q policy which she abandoned at his
request. France is no more s'mili-
taristir" to-day than Great Britain
10 or the United States is. It is
enough to shock her sensibilities to
Be pilloried before the world as en-
tsrtaining "imperialistic" designs,
when the oYaly thing she hss dona II