New-York tribune., 1921-11-23
Paris Applauds
Brands Plea
For Security
Special Satisfaction Is Ex-
pressed at Assurances
OF Support Volunteered
by Hughes and Balfour
Held Warning to Berlin
Moral Alliance" Obtained.
Is Belief; Hope for For
NAL Pledge Abandoned
BY Wilbur Forrest
Special Cable to Tne yr,a,,,,s


Copyright 1921. New York Tribune INC
PARIS, Nov. 22.-All France TODAY
appiauded and ndorsed the frank words
OF Premier BRAND before the Wash
lngton armament limitation conference.
and the majority of Frenchmcn are
ready to accept the outcome of the
thlrd pienary session as the greatest
moral assurance of Frances security
since the armistice.
In government circles there is un-
disguised enthusiasm over the prompt
acceptance of the Premer's thesis bv
the allied representatives. Satisfaction
IS especially felt at Secretary Hughes's
declaration that there would be no
moral isolation for the nation that
defends the world, and at Balfour's
significant phrase, "The moral isola-
tlon of France would be moral trag-
edy indeed
Moral Alliance Gained
In the words of these two great
statesmen, said high official in the
Foreign Office this afternoon, "France
does not gain the written pledges which
might be desirable, but she gains a
moral alliance before the world which
is superb"
The Preniier's address contained no
I surprise for his countrymen or his po-
litlcal colleagues in Paris. His words
are an old story here, but their en-
phatic repetition before one of the
most important international gather
ings in history, and the reactions,
which are understood here to have been
unnecessarily spontaneous, on the rep
, Df 1o -
assembled in Washington, are regarded
as matters wherein France may fully
rejoice
The moral effect of acquiescence in
the French views as expressed by
other delegates to the conference i'm
medlately after the speech is tremen-
deus, especially in the interp rotation
of the situation on the other side Of
the Rhine, where the apparent lack of
Allied solidarity, particularly between
France and England, with the United
States silent, is deemed to have en-
couraged mad department on the part
of the former enemy.
Gained All He Expected
Public opinion in France had aban-
doned hope of a written alliance even
before the conference convened and it
was therefore moral assurance which
M. BRAND sought when yesterday he
stripped his speech of diplomatic nice
ties and laid his cards on the confer
ence table
Public opinion here, therefore, holds
that France has gained something in
valuable in that she has been brought
closer to her allies than at any time
since America refused to agree to the
tripartite arrangement for her protec-
ton. %
The tenor of the important sections
OF the press here is one of satisfaction
and no one is inclined to blame the
Premier for the limitation of land
forces. The semi official "Tempsv be
lieves that one of Mondays develop
ments of the conference will be more
united Allied front toward Germany
The Temps" says: "One must not
blame France because the plans for
land disarmament have fallen through
at Washington. That is what BRAND
wanted to avoid. France is grateful to
all those who spoke well OF her after
Brands address, but especially to Bal
tour, whose words. confirming others
which ne uttered at Geneva. proves
that with such statesmen there does
not exist question between France
and England which cannot be regulated
civilization at large"
"Llntransigeant" comments TONIGHT
on Frances great victory at Wash
lngton, wherein not even the concur
renee of Foch was necessary" 1t saws:
"France suffers from feeling herself
morally isolated and of being uniustlv
accused of Imperialism 1t seems that
at yesterdays session of the Washing
ton conference both these points were
settled
Speech Heard in Germany
LA Presse" says: "Frenchmen
unanimously approve Premier Brands
words as we'll as their favorable re-
ception wherein the delegates associ-
ated themselves with the French view
point. This speech will be heard and
understood in Germany because it
shows once again that on a capital
question there is complete accord be-
tween London and Paris"
to Brands thesis, expressed by Eng
land, Italy, Belgium, Japan and even
the United States, cannot help but
have a happy development on the peace
of Europe"
Perhaps the only dissenting voice
Of the evening press is "La Liberte :"
which holds that France has gained
nothing at Washington except liberty
of action. owe will continue conscrip-
tion and the heavy costs of the mill
tary budget, while Balfours speech.
interpreted, means: 1T is Frances
affair. not ours. | give you my bene-
diction.'"
French exchange to-day dropped 25
points and was quoted at 14.25. Finan-
cial experts, however. did not at
tribute this weakness to any develop
ments of the Washington conference.