The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-06
FRENCH WILLING TO
ACT WITH HARDING
Continued from FIRST Poge.

Fear Is openly expressed by iniiuehtlai
French newspapers that England may
get ahead OF France In this unless tho
French Government moves quickly. in
stead OF waiting until next spring. while
the covenanters 60 on with their pres
emit scheme.
Question for Geneva.
A fact of greatest significance Is that
not a single Influential voice Is raised
here In defence of the league. which. to
French eyes, now seems to stand abso-
lutely discredited by the American ref
erendum, the only popular vote taken
on It save that In Switzerland.
At the same time 1t Is apparent that
neither the French Government nor
any other government has as yet
evolved any scheme whereby the league
as 1t is now constituted might be
scrapped or estopped from mixing with
ton undoubtedly will come up In Ge-
neva, with Lord Robert Cecil leading
the battle to preserve the present league
organization end all the leagues
powers.
French official circles profess igno-
rance OF what Premier Lloyd George and
other British Government heads intend
doing In this ticklish situation resulting
from the election In the United States.
but they insist that even II the British
Premier goes to Geneva, Premier Ley
CUES Of France will not do SO. Mean
while. however. every move England
makes toward America Is being watched
here with the interest due to the dis
.e~fo a. a lrt1
matte and commercial policies. a resent
ment and distrust which Is growing
daily In Paris.
The journal insists that II would be
the gravest kind OF an error for France
to wait four months before following
Americas expressed wishes, declaring
that II was Just such inertia that two
years ago allowed President Wilson to
fall into England's arms.
I'm 1920, as then. England will not
be long In profting by our inaction, but
she Is now obliged to make change OF
front infinitely greater than ours II
says. THE present pact assures Great
Britain of immediate satisfaction and
future hopes. and to consolidate this
situation the English do not hesitate to
throw sand from their balloon and sup
press the only elements of the force OF
ment OF hegemony Nj
ITO forestall this coup we haven't an
instant to lose. We must hasten to
adopt the American organization plan.
which is purely juridical, and put our
world politics on the solid ground of
realities.
''The Americans want a free hand (;
let us accord II to them"
VIII Wait on Harding.
That British statesmen. believing the
league helps England. will try immedi-
ately to win the favor of President
elect Harding and his counsellers also is
the warning of "Pertinax" in the Echo
de Paris He urges the French Govern
ment. although respecting all the for
malities due TO President Wilson. to find
some means Immediately of learning
Mr.. Harding's views, adding
II wish only TO signify that in ex-
planning clearly to America our national
needs we will repulse offensive British
radical opinion. The discussion which
is going on In the open upon the rela-
tions of the United States toward the
league furnishes, perhaps, the occasion
TO repair some of the faults committed
at Versailles"
"Pertinax" expresses the fear that Mr..
Harding might be won over to some
impracticable ideas In the league and
might refuse the more serious guarantees
which France needs-such as the
Franco-American pact.
The Aventr, while refusing TO see an
English menace. sees both the treaty and
the league inferred in America, but In
sists that the United States is now going
TO take her place In the allied councils.
there being no need for the pact to OBJ
tain American participation in the peace
organization. II says:
The great facts as TO the decadence
of the Democratic party are to be sought
in the personal faults OF Mr.. Wilson and
in the unbelievable impudence wherewith
he has carried himself away from the ad-
hesion OF his country. The truth Is that
the great transatlantic republic has con-
demned the treaty OF Versailles and the
League Of Nations but, fortunately. she
has not denied that efforts would be
made by common inspiration to assure
peace and international Justice. and,
moreover. that the interests and security
or France must be made the object Of
special soiicitude."
Sees Time for Work.
ding ahead for the league and suggests
that the period of banquets and Journeys
must end and that the league must get
down to business.
with America which seems TO have
rejected wisconsin there is a policy TO
be evolved--not ADDRESSED" II says
The entrance of the United States into
the scene brings a new element into the
'eague's affairs, and France will have an
important role TO play In the league re-
organization demanded by the American
Senate and people,"
In fact attacks on the league an II is
now constituted are general throughout
all the French press. the Lfberte asking
why France should want TO be bound by
engagements such an that contained In
Article X. OF the league covenant any
more than does the United states.
The Republican thesis of reserves is
FULL OF good sense and right" II declares.
Our interests counsel us to associate
ourselves with them. The American
nation does not wish 70 be implicated
In wars without It's consent, and why
should we7
when one examines the contents OF
ny US with our eyes closed. VIII he not
discover that when Germany is MEM
er OF the league we might be obliged TO
ssist her II she had difficulties with an
lther country? This would be danger
WIS paradox--even a scandal Every |
hing demande that we place ourselves
IN the same ground with the Republic
cans.r