The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-11
WILL THE NEXT CONFERENCE BE CONVENED?

or In kind by some agreement
such as "a bouchcur and Rathcnau
signed, why should France care
if Germany goes 90 smnsh cco-
nomicaIly and industrially and be-
comcs u poor and weak country.
thus I'm no sense q menace TO
tranCc7
Here Ia the fact in the repara-
tions situation, but the British re-
fuse TO face the fact. For some odd
reason they still cling TO tho belief
that France can be forced to give
mp something for nothing. They do
not yet perceive or will not Conccde
that with the crushing Of Germany
France has regained her freedom In
Europe. that at least for the mo-
ment sho docs not need British sup
port and that she is not ready or
willing To bow 90 British demands
and sacrifice her rights to British
or for that matter American neces-
stiles. The whole economic situa-
ton in Europe turns on this point.
Unless the British can find a way
10 turn the French out OF their po-
sition on reparations to turn thom
out or TO persuade them to como out
the economic recovery OF Europe Is
adjourned above all II is permn-
nently adjourned so long as the
British believe they can force the
French out. this is the bottom fact.
4 Real Situation.
| wish ] could make clear TO my
readers once for all the reality in
the European situation. The treaty
Of Versailles bestowed upon France
certain rights with respect Of Cor
many and at the same time Inn
posed upon Germany certain duties,
Not all the rights have been obs
served not all the duties rave been
fulfilled hut the French believe,
quite accurately, that such perform
ancc as there has been flows from
tho German was the occupation OF
more German territory by the
French army. Unless tho army is
maintained at n strength sufficient
for the work OF enforcement Of tho
treaty, Germany will refuse point
blank.
The French no longer expect
American or British guarantees OF
French security, to obtain which
they made many sacrifices at Paris.
They no longer look for aid to any
one of their former allies They
have had "A bitter disilluaiopment on
this score. France has been thrown
back on herself. But this Isolation
has not deprived her of her army
vet. not broken down the legal
strength OF her position based upon
the treaty OF Versailles. on tho
contrary her army remains intact
1t has a warrant In law and, as the
police power for enforcing the
treaty Of Versailles, It's employ
ment is justified.
The curse of all international
affairs today Is that the real fact
Is obscurCd by the pseudo moral
issue. IL Is true that French pol
10y paralyLcs European recovery
and prolongs British suffering.
But 1T IL equally true that British
c policy would threaten French
rights and might bring about
French ruin. In the long run
nothing can he accomplished un-
I'll the two policies are accommo-
dated. until the French and the
British reach mutually accept
able compromise unless one or the
other can impose It's whole policy
on the other and this IL wholly un-
| likely.
We are not confronting the clash
/ between n right and wrong. but
/ between two wholly legitimate self
/ interests. The discussion is bedov-
/ lied by all sorts of appeals 10 moral
/ considerations. but neither British
or French diplomacy 80 concerned
/ about moral issues. each Is fighting
| for the salvation of its owB country.
The economic recovery OF Europe
waits upon the liquidation Of a
French claim which no one ques-
tiOns. France can afford 10 collect
/ this perfectly just debt Britain,
| Italy, In a measure the United states
cannot afford 20 have France om-
1 ploy force TO collect tho debt But
no one Of the three il willing TO