The New York herald., 1921-10-16

Then he looked up and said quietly:
II cannot help plying Ludendorff."
Lord Miner was astounded and
said: Surely. you cannot mean
that?"
"Yes," said Marshal Foch. "His
job is more difficult than mine and
shall beat him"
That revealed the supreme courage,
nerve and genius of this man, who
has never been known to boast or
utter promise that he has not full
filed. When on another critical day
he said, II guarantee Amiens." he
seemed to be saying rash words. But
Amiens did not fall.
AS a soldier, therefore, Marshal
Foch will go down in history as one
of the worlds foremost Generals. 1t
is another thing with his statesman
ship, but it is not his fault that he
sees the policy Of France through a
soldiers eyes.
There is another vision in France.
fortunately, and that is from an eco
nomic and not from military angle.
More and more French economists
are beginning to influence the French
foreign policy. though they still have
hard struggle before them. Whereas
the Foch school thinks that to keep
Germany by the throat and shake her
pockets is the most profitable policy,
the economists in France have at last
realized that strangulation and
pocket shaking are not going to help
France get her reparations or revive
her trade.
An agreement has now been made
between France and Germany by
which the devastated regions will be
rebuilt with German material and
manufactured goods, which are to be
counted as indemnity, instead of de-
liveries Of German money, which
throws the foreign exchange into
convulsions. This is distinct step
forward in European recovery. It
may even lead to the miracle Of pro-
dueing good relations between France
and Germany based on common in
terests, and that would help matters
enormously at the Washington con.
ference If it could happen quickly.
But that is miracle not to be
expected by impatient folk. Apart
from that, however, it does indicate
a way to escape the present fears
and dangers, for, as have always
repeated as kind Of religious creed,
the political chaos of Europe can be
Strengthened out only by economic
sanity. Trade will never revive,
hatreds will never die down until
one nation learns that her own pros
perity cannot be regained by running
her neighbor and that we all arc
dependent on one another for raw
material, markets and labor.
France Seeing Moro Clearly.
France has refused to recognize
that natural law for the last three
years. She believed in keeping Ger
many weary and desperate. That is
the popular idea still in France, but
the recent agreement between Louis
Loucheur and DR.. Walter Rathenau
shows a modification in the official
policy at least as far as making use
Of German industry and labor for
repayment is concerned.
Whatever her representative speaks
for France at Washington, he will
demand only one thing for his coun-
try with regard to limitation Of
armament, and that Is security.
There is no belief in the French mind
that Germany will remain with peace.
full intent, and it must be admitted
that 1t is not as a reproach but as a
natural fact due to frightful mem.
ories that the French do not go out
of their way to foster friendly
feelings.
France therefore asks moral guar
antics from America and Great
Britain in case Of German attack
before she will consent to turn hcr
guns into ploughshares. From the
United States there is no possibility
OF such a guaranty and from Great
Britain there is not much chance
either, owing to the present exhaus-
tion Of men and money.
There is only one way in which
France may get a reasonable life In.
surance against future German
aggression, and that is cooperation
on economic lines and commercial
arrangements between Germany and