New-York tribune., 1920-04-12
Paris Believes
British Aim to
Break Alliance
No Other Purpose Held to
Account for 'sImpolite"
Protest Against Occupa-
ton of German Towns
Peace Machine Clogged
France and Belgium Now
Oppose England and Italy,
While u. S. Holds Balance
By Ralph Courtney
Special Cable to The rrih,.,,.


Copyright. 1920. by The N. Y. Tribune Inc. J
PARIS, April 11.-Britain not onlv
impolitely, as the French think. threat
ened to withdraw from the Allied am
bassadorial conference in her note to
France protesting against occupation
OF German towns, but intends to carry
her threat into execution. Lord Derby
will attend further meetings of the
council when the Hungarian treaty
chiefly is to be discussed, such as the
one scheduled for Monday, but will al
STAIN from all discussions regarding
Germany.
The French are becoming seriously
concerned at the turn Anglo French re-
lations are taking, and it is said the
dispute may come to such pass that
1t will not be easy to reach an under
standing. Premier Millerand intends
to stand firm on the question of Frank
fort. If England wishes new ex-
change of views with the French gov
ernment he will gladly agree, but if
England attempts to give orders to
France the present French Cabinet will
resist: In we'll Informed quarters it is
feared that the San Reno conference
cannot take place unless Anglo French
differences are settled.
Peace Machinery Squeaks
Things have now gone SO far that
the wheels of the peace machinery are
clogged. 1t is considered in France
that everything depends on England.
# it is her intention to break up the
Entente all the good will in the world
will make no difference.
Examine the Frankfort question as
they will, Frenchmen cannot find there
in sufficient reason for England's
rather abrupt behavior. 1t is said that
If England wishes she could have used
another manner, even if not other
means. to establish her position.
Frenchmen, therefore, are forced to
conclude that it is England's desire to
desert her for other friendships.
If England intends to desert her.
France can only turn to American pub
lie opinion for support. The situation
to-day is that France is supported by
Belgium, and Belgium is in somewhat
the same position and considers her
action justified.
Italy Sides With England
Japan, whose interests in Europe are
purely academic, telegraphs her ap-
proval. England who appears to have
material reasons for breaking with
France, sides against her, while Italy,
who is anxious to follow England and
who has always shown the least hos
tllity toward Germany, takes the same
view.
Leaving Japan out Of consideration
for the moment, France and Belgium
are lined up against England and Italy,
while America holds the balance. The
French remark how quickly American
opinion reacts to the report that Japan
is fortifying an island, which is many
hundreds Of miles from American shores,
and they ask what Americans would
think if they lived as France lived,
with only few hundred feet of water
separating it from a nation which is
known to have aggressive intentions.
If England leaves the Entente, France
will be virtually without support She
has never yet discovered an answer to
England's alleged policy of playing
France against Germany and Germany
against France.