Evening star., 1921-05-22
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
A result of the widely di-
~ vergent viewpoints of British
~ and French governments over
the question Of Silesia, truly
''the entente is at stake
Silesia is made the issue. But be-
hind the Silesian question lies one
great dominating factor Offering ex-
cuse for the Vaccinations Of states
men of the two nations at the mo-
ment- And that motive Is the in
trenchment. through events Of the
moment. Of a perpetual dominating
influence.
II France wins in Silesia and Lloyd
George is forced to capitulate from
his stand that the Germans shall
have a section of Upper Silesia, if
tho plebiscite vote has so indicated.
Frances political dominance becomes
to undermine. unless the French set
about on suicidal couraes.
Issues at Stake.
Britain today knows that If France
b permitted victory, then Britain's
political influence over a greater sec
tion OF the continent materially will
be curtailed and France will be in
cordance with the French viewpoint
and in contradiction to the British.
for, notwithstanding all alliances. all
pronounciamentos, all pledges OF
strongest concord and similarity of
ambitions, had there been no Ger
man war the two countries would
today be as far apart. in SO far as
aims and ambitions are concerned.
a. they were in the centuries when
they ever were ready to fly at each
hA
think along different channels. move
in . different manner and formulate
their domestic and foreign policies
with eye single to different ends. The
war bound them together. but out
Of that struggle has grown a tangle
Of 5ealousies occasioned by old-world
settlements and intrigues born OF
these.
Controls Small Nations.
Franco today nnds herself to all
purposes in practical control of the
policies Of Czechoslovakia,. Rumania.
Poland and Jugoslavia- Three-fourths
Of the three million men now in arms
in Europe, to all intents and pur-
poses, are controlled from Paris. Any
steps taken by French statesmen to
ton Of Europe through alliances.
treaties or agreements finds pre-
ponder4nt section of Europe's popula-
tion in accord at the moment Accord
there Is, whether it be born Of real
eympathy or merely political expe-
BRAND or any other French premier
has It within his power to move these
smaller countries on the chessboard
Of International politics. but only as
iitieai lite infiuence i is 1S pseponderant in the the
councils Of the allies. Naturally.
France felt obliged to insist. even at
the point Of the bayonet, on German
fuldllment Of all reparations claims.
Naturally. Millerand and BRAND re-
sisted any Lloyd Georgian effort to
in anyWise temporixe in the size or
time Of payment Of indemnities justly
due allied nations. Brands hand
now II strengthened by German ca
p9tulAtion and promise to pay.
Brings FoRth Rebukes.
fhs Polish aggression IN Upper sile-
approved. If not omcially so, by
France. has led to complications
bringing forth the sharpest public re-
Dukes from the premier Of Britain. Pol
about actuai hostiiities between the
Poles and the Germans in the western
sections Of Silesia, which for two
hundred years have been German and
for more than 800 certainly not Pol
tsh-
Tho Polish maneuver. against which
the French have been loath to move in
emphatic fashion, is considered by the
British to be without the treaty Of Ver-
sainea. and asa consequence the British
h4ve refused to recognize the fait ac-
conpd. whic undoubtedly French and
Poli1h o6dcialdom hoped to force. They
stm may have hopes Of adjusting some
cca1pEomisa, such as at Ffume, which
would leave the richest industrial and
mining regions IN control Of the Poles.
To every move not meeting strict inter-
pfetAtion Of the treaty Of Versailles
Lloyd George has emphaticaIly refused
10 comply. greatly antagonfzing the
Ffsnch viewpoint. which embraces the
destruction Of Germany industrially.