The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11
WOMEN ATTENDING ARMS FARLEY COMPARE OWN NATIONS
Continued from Page One.

France IL instead Of elimination OF
reparations by conference there IL
elimination Of Germany by col
lapse. II France is to get nothing
in money. nothing substantial.
whether in money or in kind by
some agreement such as Loucheur
and Rathenau signed. why should
France care IL Germany goes to
smash economically and indus
trially and becomes poor and
weak country, thus in no sense a
menace to France?
Here is the fact in the repara-
lions situation, but the British re-
fuse TO face the fact. For some
odd reason they still cling to the
belief that France can be forced TO
give up something for nothing
They do not yet perceive or will
not concede that with the crush
ing of Germany France has re-
gained her freedom in Europe. that
at least for the moment she does
not need British support and that
she is not ready or willing to bow
to British demands and sacrifice
her rights TO British-or for that
matter American necessities. The
whole economic situation in Eu-
the British can find a way TO turn
the French out OF their position on
reparations. TO turn them out or to
persuade them to come out. the
economic recovery Of Europe is
adjourned-above all il is perma-
nently adjourned so long as the
British believe they can force the
French out, this is the bottom fact
wish I could make clear 10 my
readers once for all the reality in
the European situation. The
treaty of Versailles bestowed upon
France certain rights with respect
Of Germany. and at the same time
imposed Upon Germany certain
duties. Not all the rights have
been observed. not all the duties
have been FULFILLED. but the French
believe. quite accurately. that such
performance as there has been
flows from the fact that the alter
native for the German was the oc-
cupation OF more German territory
by the French army. Unless the
army is maintained at a strength
| sufficient for the work of enforce
ment OF the treaty. Germany will
refuse point blank
France Now Isolated.
The French no longer expect
American or British guarantees OF
French security. 10 obtain which
thew made many sacrifices al
Paris. They no longer look for aid
tc any one Of their former allies.
Thev have had a bitter disillusion-
ment on this score France has
been thrown back upon herself.
But this isolation has not deprived
her Of her army yet. not broken
down the legal strength Of her po-
sitIon based upon the treaty Of
Versailles. On the contrary her
army remains intact IL has war
rant in law and as the police
mower for enforcing the treaty OF
Versailles, its employment is JUS
| titled.
The curse OF all international az
fairs today is that the real iact is
ohscured by the pseudo-moral issue.
II is true that French policy para
lyzes European recovery and pro-
| longs British suffering. But Il is
equally true that British policy
would threaten French rights s1d
might bring about French ruin. ~
the long run nothing can be ac-
complished until the two policies
are accommodated, until the French
and the British reach a mutually
accountable compromise unless cno
or the other can impose its whole
policv on the other and this is
wholly unlikely.
We are not confronting the CLASH
between right ana a wrong, but
/ between two wholly legitimate self
interests. The discussion Is be-
devilAd by all sorts of appeals q
moral considerations. but neither
British or French diplomacy is con-
cerned about moral issues. each Is
( rchtinC for salvation OF its own
country, The economic recovery OF
Europe waits upon the liquidation
Of French claim which no one
questions. France can AFFORD "a
collect this perfectly just debt
Britain. italy. in a measure. the
/ United States, cannot ahord TO have
7 France employ force to collect the
debt But no one OF the three Is
willing to recompense France for
relinquishing the claim and France
can very easily afford to face al
/ the consequences OF an attempt &c
collect. The attempt may wreck
?
/ IN Britain and Italy, II WIN incon'
venience the United states: conced'
all that. still French right and
mower remain unshaNen.
Army Remains Cnshsken.
The problem is to move France
70 get rid Of her prior claim, but
! mi. can only be accomplished by
pavment and so far no one has beer
willing to pay. France must yield
has been the burden ~ British and
| or much American song ever since
the armistice. The moral Issue has
been invoked and the French army
has been as.ailed. not because o'
the militaristic circumstance but
because while the French army re-
mains intact there is absolutely nc
way OF eliminating the French veto
And the French army has survived
the washington conference intact
It may not have received unouan-
hV,N 1srfafnlU III