The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-04-10
FRENCH MOVE
NOT POPULAR
Occupation of German Cit
les Deplored by Allied
Diplomats
TERMED BY THEM
AS CASE OF NERVES"
Confidence in French Sincerity, How
ever, Makes Cause for Uneasiness
Slight - Whole Episode Likely to
Blow Over Before Very Long.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright BY The Reformer.)

,(1opyllgnl by / he he1ormer.1
WASHINGTON, April l0-Great Brit
aims outspoken disapproval of the advance
into German territory Of the French army
is warmly applauded at the department of
state, though the fear is expressed that
the British statement may make it
trife difficult for France to retire grace
fully from the position she has taken
America is an interested and to some
extent an articulate onlooker The whole !
thing is really outside the province of the
United States inasmuch as she is neither
member of the League of Nations nor
a party to the peace treaty itself But
! 1t has been customary since the close of
| the war to reward America for the part
she played III winning the conflict by con-
slderIng her within the European sphere
i OF interest, especially because of the in
terweavlng of moral and financial consid-
eratlons. So the associated powers have
consulted the United States. France her.
self has asked the United States inform
ally tor an expression of views. This
carries with 1T a little continental irony
Tor America as well as the other powers
have been confronted by France with an
accomplished fact in the invasion of
Frankfort and explanations at this stage
OF the game cannot alter the situation
except possibly to bring about the with
drawal of French troops
Ambassador Hugh Wallace at Paris who
is a sort of ambassador-atlarge in Euro
pean affairs, being the American repre-
sentative at informal sessions of the su.
preme council, has had conversation
with Premier Aiilerand who explained at
length the reasons which cctuated France
in moving into German territory The
American ambassador has been instructed
to express in return, most informally
but forcefully, that the United States dep
recates what has occurred and believes
that the advice she gave France ten day'
ago still holds good, namely that foreign
troops should not interfere between
revolutionary factions inside Germany
There IS every reason to believe tina
the action Of Premier Millerand is no
at all popular III France, especially anon
business and financial men who chafe IN
der the impression of panic or impul
= siveness given by the French miltar.
] whenever something happens on the Frenc1
plomacy or at least concert of action vii
border. Too little reliance i'll allied d
mean an impression of French instabilit
that may hurt Frances business rela
tons with the outside world. Unques
i tonably Marshal Foch is popular wit
the masses but his influence upon Frenc
( government policy in the enforcement c
4 the peace treaty has caused no end Of dis
J quiet in allied councils where the fea
1 lies whether expressed or suppressed tina
~, C ~ ,-,ll
, sort Of dictator in France.
1t IS a critical moment for France as a
the allied diplomats have had their trout
les dealing with the French because
) Marshal Foch In official quarters her,
q for instance, there is much sympathy wit
> the French viewpoint though Presider
s Wilson himself has characterized the d
sire of the French for a tripartite defer
d sive treaty between France. Great Britai
3 and the United States as largely a case
4 French nerves" Again and again whe
d he American peace mission was at Pari
. he power of Marshal Foch to affe
4 French foreign Office policy was deplore
d by British and American officials an
many observers here think the char,
& made by President Wilson recently
q French milltarism, aimed particular
y 1t the tendency of Marshal Foch to i
s troduce into the field of diplomacy t.
much of what the average America
= might call "strong arm stuff"
The prevalent view among the allies
that Germany is in such q helpless al
II chaotic state that if economic reco
/ struction is ever to be begun in Euror
81 the allies should lend helping inste
u of meddling hand Curously enou
81 there is such deep confidence here in t
nj sincerity of France and such pronounc
y disposition to regard the French attitu