The Washington herald., 1921-05-29
BY FRANK II. sIMoNDs.


has set all Europe by the ears for
the last few weeks, is interesting
beyond all else. because II is the hrst
purely political dispute since the
world war. That is to say. IL Is ex-
actly like the kind Of dispute which,
growing out of Balkan issues, for
example. steadily threatened the
peace of the world UP to that mo-
ment when the assassination of Ser
aJeNO at last precipitated the su-
preme crisis.
There is a Sflesian question, a
purely Polish -Germanic issue, just
as there were endless Balkan dis
putes, disputes between Serbia and
Turkey, Greece and Turkey. Bull
garia and Turkey and, at later
date. between Austria and Serbia.
But the Silesian, like the Serbian
aspect, is minor; what Americans
have now to appreciate is the fact
that we are done with an old war
and an old dispute; We are entering
into a new period, a new rivalry.
Europe. after the tremendous up
heaval, which brought the United
States to the continent and involved
the whole world in the German war,
is settling back into the old ruts.
which have shaped history for 1000
years.
Their Interests Diner.
We may dismiss the upper Sile-
sian question, as such. for the mo-
ment and analyze the real issues in
vOlved in the crisis, which was
marked by the sensational ex-
changes of public statements be-
tween Lloyd George and BRAND,
statements which were at points al
most minatory and were rightly ac-
cepted the world over, as indicating
the weakening of the Anglo French
entente. not because Of German is
sues. not because of differences of
opinion as to issues of the old war,
but because of a totally different
conception as to national interests
existing in London and Paris.
To look at the British point of
view first, il will be seen at once
that Great Britain has resumed her
traditional continental policy. From
time to time the threats of Spain, of
| France under Louis XIV and again
under Napoleon, have brought Eng
land to the continent. She came last
when Germany undertook to play
4 >.
when the Immediate menace is over.
Britain begins to consider the next
dance. the next partner and the new
European situation.
Seeks Helpful Allies. ~
Germany was a danger, a menace
| commercially, industrially, finally
politically. William II challenged
Britain on the blue water. The re-
suit was that Britain in the decade
which followed the Boer war stead
lily extended her understandings on
IL the continent with that group of
nations which were necessarily hos
tile to Germany. British policy en-
| visaged an association against the
kaiser which would check and re-
strain the overlapping ambition of
the new Germany.
In the end the British policy led
straight to the world war. because
| Germany was bound not to be linn
| tied to dominate, not to play the
role Of one of many great powers.
But the war come. Germany was
beaten. as Louis XIV had been. as
NAPOLEON had been. And with Ger
man defeat. Germany ceased to be
menace for the British The Ger
| commercial fleet was mainly in
British hands. So were the German
colonies. That country which had
been a dangerous rival became. In
sta antly no more than a prospective
customer.
France Becomes Rival.
More than this. the defeat of Ger
many had brought the ascendancy
of France on the continent. France
became in British eyes the next pos
sible rival II was the business of
British statesmen TO restrain
France. to preserve Germany as a
counter balance. exactly as Britain
had preserved France from parti-
ton, after Waterloo, insisting that
the France of 1879 should be re-
stored to the BourbOns, on their re-
turn from exile. In taking this
course Britain fought Prussia a
century ago. as she is now fighting
France.
one must not confuse apparent
moderator, reasonableness, even
generosity to Germany on the part
lof the British as an evidence of
higher moral standard than exists
among other European nations. No.
Hong before 1t is moral principle.
britain sees France now, as she saw
IGermany before the war. as a pos
sible rival in the future. Could
France add the coal OF the Ruhr to
I the iron of Alsace-Lorraine and of
)French Lorraine. France would be-
come the greatest iron. steel and
local nation in the world. and on
such bases German expansion and
powers built.
Restraints the French.
At the Paris conference the main
effort of the British craftsmanship
was TO restrain France, using both
| the United States and Italy as tools.
Mr.. Wilson's IA points were conven-
iient bases for action in restraint of
French ambitiOn-once Mr.. Wilson
had accommodatiugly dropped that
article in his faith which affected
British naval strength, namely. the
Freedom of the seas. Thus we found
the. British opposing French acqui-
sition of the Sarre, of the left bank
Of the Rhine. and in the same way
Undertaking to block French expan-
sion in Syria.
A Germany which had no terrors
for Britain might easily become a
useful counterweight to France.
Hence the insistence by the British
Iupor concession after concession to
I the Germans. Every French effort
10 advance into Germany to enforce
khe treaty of Versailles has met with
instant British opposition. Unfor-
Fortunately for the English the
treaty of Versailles established GER