New-York tribune., 1921-12-04
By Frank H. Simonds

British and the French in con-
sequence Of recent events here
"a in Europe Is vivid reminder Of
ss..,nseh that was most memorable and
+ ,,s.t attractive in Paris. While this
3 ssaah has had its occasion in the events
Il the last week, it is perhaps not too
much to say that one must go back at
hast as far as William the Conqueror
Il and its origin. Even those Ameri-
esns who are most familiar with Paris
and London are somewhat aghast at
: lie kesincompatibility of temper between
NO recent allies which has been re-
walled, and there can be no ristaking
fhe fact that the passions already ex-
sited constitute dangerous menace
= the moral if not the material sue
esss of the Washington conference.
The British and the French came
here each with memories still poignant
,ef the score of diplomatic conflicts
which eliminated last August in the
deadlock over Silesia. That deadlock
vas not followed by an absolute break
shstween France and Britain because
,nsither nation was quite ready for
that The compromise which referred
the Silesian question to the League of
Nations. while avoiding the break, did
.nSthing to accommodate the funda-
mental difference of opinion.
In the larger sense the row that we
have on our hands in Washington to-
day was made in Fleet Street, al
sthough, as consequence of Curzon's
latest statement. it has now spread to
Downing Street. In other words, what
began as a newspaper quarrel has to-
sday expanded into battle between the
foreign Offices. At the bottom of the
present dispute lies the essential fact
that Great Britain and France, having
totally different interests in the world,
and particularly on the continent of
2Europe. find themselves consequently
at odds. This inevitable and unendine
collision is accentuated by the fact
that for centuries there has existed
between the two peoples an extraordi-
suary degree of mutual incomprehensi-
sb'lity and corresponding amount OF
suspicion and worse
Brand Had Two Purposes
in Attending Conference
When NJ. BRAND came to this country
he came with the hope of accomplishing
one Of two precise things-either gain
ing for France treaty or guaranty
against German aggression, signed by
the United States and Great Britain, or
q recognition Of the right of France to
make provision for her own defense in
accordance with her own views. If the
latter proved to be the maximum possi-
bility the French Premier hoped to, be
able to get some kind of an expression
Of public opinion which would indicate
that France was not morally isolated
and that her recent associates in the
war did not believe the charges Of i'm
perialism or chauvinism which had
been made against her.
At the very outset NJ. BRAND discov-
cred that an alliance was impossible.
On the other hand, he found both Mr..
,Balfour and Mr.. Hughes sympathetic
with his statement that France was re-
cqcing her armies, but must be the
Judge of wiiat reductions were safe.
Mr.. Balfour's response to NJ. Brands
great oratorical effort was not only
generous in phrase, but was unmistak-
sbly the expression of a man who was
deeply moved himself and desired to go
20 the limit of possibility in emphasize
ing British appreciation Of French sac
tifces and French difficulties. What
ever has been done to make trouble,
certainly Mr.. Balfour was not response
sbls.
I. The real difficulty was and remains
that there is in England a profound
difference Of opinion as to France and
french policy. This difference OF opin-
sop is based upon two radically vary
1ng conceptions of British interest.
.lae one group would stand with France,
3 would give France her treaty of guar
aasy, and seek to restrain French pol
Wv from within an alliance, not from
fAs outside. When one criticizes British
= attitude toward France it is essential
p recognize that there is in British
{ opinion, represented by many eminent
journalists, newspapers and public men,
friendly feeling for France which
perhaps finds no counterpart in French
Entiment toward Great Britain.
" contrast there is also in Great
ps;iain very large public sentiment
Hhich suspects France from of old,
saad' although demanding that France
saouid forget Ludendorff while he s
sHll alive, finds it impossible to rid
'saeH OF apprehension of Napoleon a
esntnrg after his death. 1t is out of
7.a's group that there has emerged that
series OF attacks upon France
sieleh, when continued in Washington,
led to very grave consequences
divergence of Interest
y Germany Is Great
g lar as Germany is concerned. it
be difficult to imagine greater
ssnesgence of interest than that be-
ESss s*Sen Great Rritaiu and France