Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-11
FRANCE RESOLVED
TO GUARD HERSELF,
COME WHAT MAY

very great indeed was proved by that
which took place in the supreme
council In London between Lloyd
days the British premier had been
pressing Millerand to comply with the
German request. and when the French
premier, IN an effort to soften that
re1 usal which he felt the interests of
MS nation demanded that he should
MAKE, MAKE, suggested the guarantees
winch he would accept from Germany
the nrst impulse Of his British col
league was definitely to refuse assent
10 the plan. This refusal he subse-
quently softened or corrected by say
ing that final decision of the ques-
tlon might be postponed because con-
oltlons in the Ruhr region had ap-
parently improved.
Acted .as Last Resort.
Thus it may be seen that Millerand
nnally acted as he did, ordering the
ADVANCE of the French troops, simply
because all hope Of a satisfactory So
action Of the council in London had
peen refused him. He further calcu-
lated that the brutality of the Ger
man proceedings, safe to expect after
.ne experiences Of the war, would
~, n,rins about such a reaction Of pub
George. always quick to see and ac-
cept reactions OF this kind, would be
iorceo into acceptance Of the French
INITIATIVE. AS yet not enough time
mas elapsed to indicate whether or
~, ~. .hls assumption was accurate, but
we snail know whether or not it will
De justified by facts before many more
Gays have passed. 1t is regarded in
trance as not Uncomfortable that the
Inc british people. wildly remembering
Ghe experiences of their soldiers at the
hands or Germans, wholly disregardful
OF the tenets of civilized warfare and the
sulerlngs OF their civilian population.
including women and children, under
tho terrible night attacks of German
ar squadrons upon undefended towns.
oelore long Will voice their disap-
provaI OF the course of their own
leadership and approve the necessary
action taker by the French.
Further Complication. Feared.
The FIRST expressions CT opinion BY
Lord Cur1on and Bonar Law, which
have been reported here in Paris. are
not indicative Of such a satisfactory
outcome of the situation, however.
Both OF these powerful gentlemen
maintain that before extending the
area Of her military operations France
should have communicated with and
obtained the approval of the allies.
At the present moment 1t remains I'M
certain whether or not such disap-
prevail by these important English
men will make any material impress
SION upon the procedure of the
French government. as the feeling in
France runs very high and the perils
lurking in a Disappointment Of the
perfectly obvious demand of French
resented to all the British cabinet
ministers referred TO by Lord Derby,
British ambassador to France, three
or four days ago.
1t i$ regarded as among the POSSIBLE
tiles here in Paris that the wish. to
Millefand. for his independence with
the hope Of making him In future
moro pliable to the dtctation Of the
majority of the supreme council. may
carry Lloyd George of his feet, max
ing hirn resort to some procedure i'm
nations with the steps which France
has taken In preservation Of her own
safety
The standpoint of the French pre-
mier is that he wnl consider carefully
any guarantees which will make
Ruhr area and II they are sufficient
will accept them and act in accordance.
but that he must deny any tendency
to admit the competence of the society
of nations permanently TO arDltrate
difficulties arising out of the enforce
ment of the original peace treaty In
volving the actual safety Of France.
France Must Protect Herself.
II is certainly the sentiment Of the
French people that Il French safety is
threatened and the league of nations
takes no steps to protect 1t, France in
evitably must take the law into her
own hands for that purpose.
The unfavorable attitude Of Italy to
the French procedure and Belgium's
plain approval of it must remain I'M
important, for it is regarded as an alb
solute certainly that both In the end
will follow Brtain's lead AS things
at present stand. 1t is accepted as
sure that the courageous policy of
Monsieur Millerand will react upon
development in the near east, for as
a matter Of expediency France is
likely to concentrate as many troops
as possible upon the German frontier.
strictly limiting her commitments in
the Adr1atic, In Turkey and in Syria.
even probably going 70 the length of
recognising Feisul end insisting upon
the maintenance of tho Ottoman en-
pire in as complete a form as pos
sible.