The Washington herald., 1921-10-02

Dlatta hOpSb uPou tuC eA-
ample of the victors. But this ex-
ample was lacking. Despite the |
league of nations, and despite the |
good will Of several German gov
efnments, France continued to |
build up its position in Europe upon
the power idea.
In France. two elements were
combating each other during the
Versailles peace negotiations. II
the forces of conciliation and eco
nomic cooperation. at first domin-
ating. were not able to win out,
Germany itself is not entirely inno-
cent thereof. For the old tradi-
tion of might had sufficient fol.
levers here to compel even good
intentioned governments to give
their dealings and speeches IA
form. which. though based upon
inner-political reactions, offered
the French nationalists the well
come excuse to SOW dL 'ust against
the German intentions.
Made Grave Mistake.
The Fehrenbach cabinet. whose
foreign minister, DIR. Simons, ar the
beginning, was inbued with the best
intentions for fulfillment, commit
ted the great mistake of view
ing English kindnesses as political
promises, upon which was built
policy which in Paris-even though
falsely-awakened with IRENE
diable results the impression tina;
Germany was specuIating upon
splitting the entente and. in emer-
gency. would even organize armed
r. rts.stance based upon English sup
port.
German critics of this policv
would have understood il and even
welcomed IL had clarification
been demanded. But instead of
reckoning with the inner political
nervousness of collapsed and
heavily oppressed folk. the French
statesmen allowed themselves. un-
der pressure of the opposition in
their own country, to prescribe the
law OF action. So it came about
that the two neighboring peoples
again, as before. stood opposed
Ike enemies. Indeed. today. more
than before. During the whole war
there was in Germany no hate
against France. Not merely the
German soldiers at the front. but
also the German population at
''N'''Nf hob Ah' uttptSN ~ lllDdlnA Tor
the sufferings of the French popu-
lation. The pacifistic elements
growing during the war. resented
with strong vitality the devasta-
tons in France. But. since the oc-
cupation OF the Rhineland and
through the conduct of the French
in Upper Silesia, the attitude to-
ward France has completely altered
and, since the flawless attitude of
the wirth cabinet has not been
able TO Change the hardness Of
the French measures. the number
or those is growing critically. who
continually point out that the vic
tors in the world war. who former
~ accused Germany of misuse of
force, are now champions of con-
tlnuance of militarism and its de-
structive operation in Europe.
Rule of MiIItarism.
As long as militarism rules, no
irtelligible policy can be conduct
ed in Europe. The number of Eu-
ropean states has been considerably
increased through the peaces with
Germany. Austria, Hungary and
Turkey. But all these states which
are politically independent. are
bound all the more closely together
economically. Germany cannot be-
CO me healthy if its neighbors do
not live in peace together and with
Germany Germany is dependent
upon the help of France, which
now includes important parts of
the former German economic terri
tory. Even more France needs
Germany's ability, in order to re-
store itself and to meet its obliga-
tions abroad.
Men have not been lacking in
either France or Germany who COM
pretended these connections prop
erly. But in France. those have won
who declared the fears for the fu-
ture were more important than the
needs of the present. The French
generals. whose bravery has been
honored even in Germany, were
strangely enough representatives of
policy of fear and anxiety. The
present French militarists, with
plenty of munitions, conjure UP the
future specter of a new militarism
in Germany-the Germany which
now has difficulty in getting grant,
ed sufficient revolvers and carbines
to keep it's police force somewhat
servicea BILE.
In this state of things. it is COM
pletely out of the question that
guarantees offered by Germany pre-
sent in France sufficient support
against the powers of Frances own
militarism.
Agreements of France.
Germany anticipates that in the
discussions in Washington over the
possibility Of disarmament, France
will produce all the arguments of