Evening star., 1921-06-09
BREAK
.|NFRANCO:BRI|SH
RELATIONS FACED
Crisis Approaching in Euro
pean Atfairs-Paris May
Quit League to Play to US.


Quit League to Play to US.
by PAUL SCOTT MOWRER-
BY Cable to TIE star and eaissso Daily News
CopyPisht, 1891.
PARIS. France. June S.-The present
diplomatic situauon In Europe IL ex-
1remely serious. Beneath an apparent
calm there Is profound perturbation.
"A CRISIS IL approaching in Franco
British AFFAIRS which may change the
entire political outlook and is there
fore OF grave moment not only to the
United States. but to the whole world:
In the long run the crisis can end
only in formal Ffanco-BHtish ann
ance or in each resuminS complete
diplomatic independence.
. Both powers stand today at the
crossroads. During two years they
have succeeded in working together
but at the cost of a continual STRAIN
to the government and public opinion
of both countries The plain truth is
that in nearly every instance they
imagine their interests to be dfametri-
caily opposed. In Europe France Ia
pro- o-Polish and Britain anti-Pohsn'
France Is pre-Slav and Britain anti
soviet Russia and Britain has practi-
cally recognized it; France wants 10
give most Of Upper Silesia to Poland.
while Britain wants to give IL 10 Ger
many. France is inclined to pc
suspicious of Germany and wishes to
enforce the treaty of Versailles
strictly and severely: Britain Is m
clined to treat Germany with con-
hdence and clemency.
= ConhictinS Views In Near East.
: In the near east France is anti
Greek and pre-Turkish. France Is
the aveWed enemy of Emir Feisul.
who is . British creation and is still
Indeed, it Is difiicuit to discover a sim
gle point In which they agree except
the sincere desire, each according 70
it's own light. to restore and pac1fy
Europe. In this situation Germany's
course 10 obvious. She is endeavorinE
systematically and continually to
bring about . Ffanco-British rupture.
French leaders are convinced that
Britain secured GePmanys consent to
the London agreement only by secret
ly promising Germany support In Up
per Silesia and In various questions
concerning the Rhineland and the
Ruhr in return for the show of good
faith In the matter Of Peparations.
Germany is therefore now demanding
all OF Upper Silesia, the suppression
Rhine, the evacuation of the Ruhr
river ports and q display Of tolerance
by the allies in the problem of dis
banding the Bavarian and East Pfus-
sian civic guards-to none OF which
France can agree.
Gsrnaas IneFeasinE Suspicion.
To overcome the French opposition
In Upper Silesia and increase the mu-
tual suspicion between the allies,
Herr Stresemann. leader Of the Ger
man industrial party. has even pro-
German alliance. In the near future
a meeting of the supreme council will
doubtless be convoked for the pur-
pose Of discussing Upper Silesia. the
proposed modification of the Rhine
eastern situation. In this meeting
Britain will be supported by hex ally.
Japan. and also in most points by
Italy. France. though she hopes for
the moral backing OF the United
sa sfass' San neee:nIns ee:y 1s en BEL ssi
sis and tension are aimoat Inevitable.
There 10 q growing. sentiment in
France that 1t is tinsH to settle this
matter Of Franco-British relations
once tor all. French Political circles
TS,.. 1fs ."'.imsu,y sosmy and 5,t5sI
among the French leaders. There 10
one group headed by Premier BRAND
and . strong element in the ministry
OF foreign Affairs who consider that
frances only real security lies In
even at the cost of continually play
ing second eddie to Downing street.
There ID . second group, powerful in
the legislature, which desires to win q
british alliance il possible. but not at
.the cost OF sacrificing what are con-
that il It eamA to the worst
the loss Of British SonDert would be
largely compensated fer by the devel-
-opment Of Q system Of alliances in
central and western Europe and by
seeking BY every means 70 gain the
necessary to the point Of absndenins
sthe league Of nations
Grsap Opposes Alliance.
{ There is still q third group. small
eaergetic, which. asserts that
a British alliance would Inevitably be
group would rather seek All sl,iancs
with Germany. which WIS impossible
before the war. on account OF. Alsace
and Lorraine.sbut which, IL concluded
now, 1T Is thought. would insure
French supremacy on the continent.
France has been acting up to the
present is becoming increasingly Diff
ficult owing to French resentment
against British exigenciea. In my
opinion the third point Of view cannot
prevail, for most French leaders are
convinced that Germany cannot be
trusted and would stab France in the
back 1T the first opportunity.
There remains the second point Of
view which the writer considers that
which will henceforth gradually be
adopted. Supporters Of this point Of
view favor a showdown with Britain,
making clear exactly what cards each
country holds in all the outstanding
questions. II an agreement then
proves impossible they are ready to
accept the responsibility Of a return
to a regime Of Independence. But. If,
as they hope. an agreement can be
reached, including a British guaranty
to help France in the case of renewed
unjustified German aggression, then
they would be willing to make . writ
ten alliance, taking care. however, not
TO offend the United States, thereby
and always depending fully a. much
on the friendship Of the Unttad States
rs upon that OF Britain.