Evening star., 1921-04-06
FRENCH AROUSED
YU.S.PLANFOR
SEPARATE PEACE
Determination to Keep Out of
League Keen Disappoint-
ment to Paris.
BY PAUL SCOTT stowRER.

IS.
Copyright 1921.
PARIS. France. April 6.-"The news
from the United States is bad" This Is
the grave remark which is now being
passed hourly among the French lead
ers. 1t is true that French newspapers
express great satisfaction at the Ameri-
can reply % the German note on repara-
tons. but nobody in Paris ever serious
ly anticipated that the United States
would ever take Germany's side against
the allies. What the French leaders
mean when they say that the news is
bad is that both Rene Viviani and Am
bassador Jusserand have apparently re-
ported that President Harding and the
republican leaders in the Senate are de-
termined to make a separate peace with
Germany and keep America out Of the
league Of nations.
The expressions of sympathy for
France with which this decision is sur
rounded are naturally appreciated. but
are regarded somewhat as in the nature
of a consolation prize.
Ready to Make Concessions.
The French government is disposed to
make all sorts of concessions to the
United States provided the latter will
ratify the treaty and join the league.
France is willing to accept any kind of
reservation or modification so that there
shall not be the slightest doubt as to
the position Of the United States. There
is no objection that the United States
can raise which France is not ready to
meet by a corresponding mediative so
luton but both Viviani and Jusserand
have seemingly cabled home that the
American leaders are in such a psyche
logical state that the very mention of
the words league OF nations" throws
| ~ S,.A. II hot tHnxy po
unable to listen to reason on the sub
ject.
1t was part Of M. vivianfs mission to
make clear to the Harding administra- :
ton, first, that France would regard
with great anxiety the conclusion Of a
States and Germany. and, second. that
France cannot consent to the dissolution
of the present league of nations or to
separation from the league covenant of
the machinery for the execution of the
treaty. Obviously, however. France has
not the slightest intention of even SEEM
ing to tE3 to dictate what the policy OF
the United States shall be. From the
moment that it becomes clear that, in
spite Of everything, the United States
intends to make a separate peace all
that France can do is to acQuleSe as
gracefully as possible.
In the opinion of many European OBJ
servers, the present American policy is
harmony among the nations.
Remark Is Cited.
The following remark made by Sem
ator Knox to Stephane Lauzanne, editor
Of LIE Matin, has been widely dissemi-
mated in France:
'"The treaty contains the covenant of
the league of nations which our govern
ment will never accept. contains stipu-
lations concerning the far east which
we are unable to ratify. and contains
stipulations concerning the frontiers OF
central Europe which do not affect us.
Therefore, we Will never ratlIy tne
treaty of Versailles"
These words sound ominous to Eu-
ropean ears. They seem to mean that
the United States. by its abstention.
means to strike at the existence OF
the league of nations. which certain
Britain. are equally determined to
maintain. The league has more than
forty members. 1t is extremely
doubtful if the Scandinavian and
South American countries, for ex-
ample, will resign merely because the
United States stays out. The compli-
cations which are bound to ensue.
therefore, between the nations form
ing the league and one powerful state
which in the face of every oher or
concession remains outside are ominouS.
AS for Senator Knox's remark that
the United States IS not cOnceTHeu III
central European boundaries. the
United States in ratifying them could
declare explicitly that it accepted no
formal responsibility for guarantee
ing them, just as President Roosevelt
made a reservation when he signed
the Algeciras convention in the name
of the United States
Finally, as for the Shantung settle
ment. which Senator Knox says the
United States cannot ratify. the
French are wondering If he means
that the United States intends to
challenge Japan's occupation of this
territory. -
ment when American dislike Of the
league of nations seerrs the greatest
French opinion. which at first was
lukawarm toward the league. should
be evolving in the opposite sense. The
aim and purpose of the league are
now being taught in all the public
schools Propaganda meetings, both
large and small, are being held con-
tinually throughout France in favor
of the league. Thus what perhaps
from the United States looks like a
moribund institution begins to look
from France like something that is
really vital.