Evening star., 1920-03-21
"MILITARISM"INFRANCE
HELD WISH FOR SAFETY
President Wilson's Charge Discussed by
Mr.. Simonds-How Europe Looks at
u. S. Ideals and Treaty Views.

though they habitually carried arms
and were frequently engaged in ac-
tual warfare. is to imagine an alb
surdity.
Yet America went to Paris and pro-
claimed that 1t was the moral duty OF
the French. who had been four times
invaded within a century, each time
with tragic consequences for them
selves. to lay aside all safeguards
against fifth invasion and trust en-
tirely In the paper guarantees Of the
league of nations and the abiding
Paris; that the world had entered into
new age, golden age of peace. in
which the Germans had become gen
tie and the Prussians were no longer
predatory. A refusal by the conti-
mental countries TO accept this view
was forthwith denounced as reaction
ary. militaristic. The discovery OF
this reluctance was the signal for the
beginning of that storm Of denuncia-
ton OF Europe which has continued fl
America ever since.
Meantime in the United States for
many months there has been going
forward debate. a struggle, designed
beyond all else to protect America
against any possible dangers or re-
sponsibilities incident to the treaty
of Versailles. We have asked the
French to retire from the Rhine bar.
rier and run the risk of a new inva-
sion: our President is now denouncing
the present government of France az
milltaristic, because of its objection to
such course: yet for months we have
devoted endless attention to the franz
ing OF sentences and the selection of
words to insure our own immunity.
not, be 1t understood, to invasion, but
merely to more or less imaginary re-
sponsibility.
Is it any wonder that Frenchmen.
pn1A
peans generally, regard the two
Anglo-Saxon nations with amazement
and measure of scorn? One hears
frequently-one heard all the time
at Paris-of American idealism.
but what does this idealism consist
in? From the European viewpoint in
willingness to expose France to in
| vasion. Italy to insecurity, Poland to
partition, without the smallest risk
on our part. merely to impose upon
the world system which Americans
believe will abolish all war.
Anglo-American Alliance.
AS for the English. on their side.
they have q definite object in mind.
they are seeking an actual Anglo
American alliance. 1t may be that this
| is the best thing that can occur. 1t
| may be that a partnership between
these two countries is the most eff-
| cacious guarantee to the peace of
the world and the prosperity of the
two nations most concerned. But it,
ought clearly to be recognized in
| America that it is not profound faith.
in the American program, absolute
conviction in the efficacy Of the league
of nations, which moves the British,
to support the American President in
each separate encounter with the
continent On the contrary. 1T is pure
ly and simply a pursuit OF exactly
! that security which France is seek
ing at the Rhine. Italy on the Adri-
attic, Poland at the Pripet. Rumania
along the Dniester.
French militarism is nothing more
than British navalism, desire to
| provide the proper basis for national
security. But we placed British naval
ism outside the discussion at Paris.
and properly. 1 believe. Still. in Paris
| and since Paris America has been
deluged with denunciations. domestic
and English of French militarism and,
| Italian imperialism; the unhappy
Poles. striving for reunion after
! been tagged chauvinistic for desir-
| ing to hold real estate at their doors
! by British journals. which solemnly.
accept as of right British annexations
| all over the world
All of which leads to one thing
America seems to the continent
British catspaw or partner OF the
British in a scheme of world exploita-
| ton. The French and the Italians
| believe that it is for our own pecuni-.
ary profit that we have interfered In
their affairs: that We have vetoed
their aspirations or their pursuit Oh
what they deem security. while hold
| ing our hands In every case where
British interest was affected. And
the last year has seen the multipl
cation of causes for European dis
trust and dislike for the country
which, on November IL. 1918, was held
| in something approaching veneration-
by millions and millions Of Euro,
peans.
| Today the Greek wonders why
| America vetoes his desire to hold Hell.
| lenic Thrace. refuses him koritza and
| his Epirote frontiers, while We un-'
hesitatingly assign to the British
! colonies in which the population is
either German or native. The Ru-
| manian speculates on our unyielding
hostility to his occupation of Bessa--
rabia, Rumanian by tongue and ira
dition; the Italian ponders on Ameri-.
| can veto to all his projects: the
Frenchman speculates upon American
denunciation of his aspirations for
security, when the map of Asia and
even more of Africa shows the Brit
ish color. with American approval
newly applied to territories vastly in
excess of the area of France of Italy.
of all of our European associates
combined.
The simple truth is that militarism
| in France, navalism in Britain, Mon
roeism in the United States repre-
sent the same underlying seeking.
/ after security. the desire to erect bar
| riers along the known pathway OF
danger, which for the French is the.
Rhine. for the British the sea. for
! America Europe and Asia