Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-07
NATIONS SEEKING
SELF1NTERESTS
AS ALLIES DIVIDE
French Action Regarded as
Step Toward Return of
Old Policies.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

International nervousness Is spread
ing. Frances occupation of German
territory against the judgment of the
United States. Great Britain and other
allied powers is but one symptom
Throughout the world, as It becomes
apparent that there is no central, CO.
hesive, effective instrumentality to en-
force the peace treaty, each nation is
beginning to look out for her own in
terests.
Japan. being nervous about the
proximity OF the bolsheviki and their
doctrines to fncipient radicalism in
the land OF Nippon, has seized Vladi-
vostok
Italy Is tacitly behind D'Annunzio's
occupation Of Fiume
Poland has reached out for pieces
Of Russian territory.
the near east is tangle of British
Syria.
Germany's socialist government
claims her economic ruin is sought
by France, and unless It is permitted
to put down the revolt in the Ruhr
valley the, monarchicaI party will
come back into power.
Marshal Foch and the French gen
erals. putting little stock in German
pleas. have Influenced Premier Mile
rand and the French foreign office to
take no chances on the allied council
of diplomats. which was trying to
dissuade France. but to go ahead and
take German territory first and talk
about it afterward
Frances Action Understood.
This summary of the world situa-
tion. as gathered in official quarters
here. involves no accusations against
other governments or nations Of i'm
proper motive. Frances action in
occupying German cities is deplored.
but. nevertheless. thoroughly under
stood.
President Wilson sees his charges
OF initial ism against the party now
In control OF France as vindicated by
events. But while the military un-
auestionably have affected the views
of the French foreign ONCE. there is
a disposition here to regard the ad-
vice and action of the French military
as natural and logical outgrowtha
Of the policy OF abandonment of
France. which has been gradually
adopted invoiuntarily by the powers
associated with her in the war.
The British people are sick Of war
and Prime Minister Lloyd George
could promise no military support to
the French move. Moreover. large
elements Of Great Britain's popula-
ton, notably ne labor party. believe
he 6nfman Sn6ialists are right in
tht3r cry that Ahe treaty is too harsh
for the economic good Of the world
y IN America, from which the French
ez2ssted so much. there is a CON
fxe Of Ersks1 "A Evidenced by the
f&dt&d18He4sof the Senate toward the
NrGhfe merriam British defensive
agreement. which President Wilson
euhmitted to the Senate nine months
ago. and which. has, not even been re-
ported from the Senate foreign rela-
lions COMMITTEES. Feeling that she
can get no physical help from the
Cnited States. France is taking mat
ters In her own hands to prevent
trouble on her frontiers.
May Maintain War Spirit.
While there Is good deal of SYM
pafhy with the plight Of France. there
10 nevertheless q feeling that France
IL not, acting wisely for her own best
Interest and that by her action in &C.
cupytng German cities she will keep
alive. the germs Of war and unrest in
central Europe. the rehabilitation of
which has been SO earnestly sought to
stabilize European and world finance
Tho French military are nervous
seem to mean nothing with a Ger
many at the front gate, and the
French viewpoint is that. regardless
Of allied discussions and pledges.
France must prepare to enforce the
treaty herself.
not altogether peculiar to France.
Others in. the allied family, notably
England and Italy. and now Japan in
the lar east, are looking out for their
own interests. There Is no central
moral force to say any ma
ton nay, The league Of nations was
designed by President Wilson to meet
exactly the situation that has arisen.
It WAS to negative any territorial pre-
tensions or arbitrary Interpretation of
the peace treaty. Article Y was a
pledge to preserve territorial integ-
rity. Had the United States and the
of the league been function
ing. the question would have required
a sunahfn1ous vote before France could
have acted In occupying German ter
ritory. , Japan would have been pre-
vented from entering Vladivostok
without consulting the allies and get
ting their consent. Italy would have
been hailed before the league of ma
lions and required to expel d'Annun-
Edo from F4ume under penalty of eco
nomfc boycott.
Show Lack Of Faith.
None Of these outbreaks on the part
OF the allies themselves. either in
central Europe, the near east or far
east. might have occurred IL each OF
the associated powers had had more
respect for the league OF nations.
Their present attitude is convincing
evidence oftheir lack Of faith in any
concert which lacks the
physical and moral balance of the
United States.
So far as its effect upon our own
Is concerned. Frances adj
vance into German territory is deep
~ regretted. 1t serves to cool such
enthusiasm as the executive branch
porting the tripartite agreement with
France and England whereby The
United States and England. would
,on1c to the assistance Of France in
he event OF IAN unpovoked attack"
BY Germany on France.
: Republicans and democrats look
lskance at the action OF France. and
wonder what Americas obligations
might have been II the triple agree
ueiits were in effect at present. when
he French advance into German ter
-itprya is blamed upon German insip- |
.erfty In the Ruhr valley. Frances |
lction probably seals the fate of the |
,pecfal Franco american treaty. and. |
{ Is feared. means a return through !
,ut Europe Of the land degrading, get !
vhat-you-can policy which President |
Wilson has predicted would eventual |
y mean chaos and more bloodshed in
he world.
- Copyright, 1901
-IEUT. PEARSON MAKES