The Washington herald., 1921-03-27

take years and be accompanied by
| circumstances which would make
Conciliation next to impossible.
We have all become familiar in
| past months with the truth as con-
trasted with the Wilsonian concep-
tion. Germany attacked her neigh
bors. She carried fire and sword to
their richest provinces and she
wrought harm which can only be re-
| paired hy the expenditure of billions.
1t is impossible for her to pay these
billions at once. even II she desired.
| The payment will take years, but
this payment can only be assured
by the continued occupation of Ger
man territory for a lorg period Of
years. This occupation. after al.
may not be exactly war. but II Is
miles away from peace. Nor can she
| believe that the Germans born since
the close of the war will bear with
out resentment burdens which are
imposed upon them by the treaty
of peace.
says Reparations Just.
do not mean to suggest that the
portion OF the treaty which seeks to
make Germany pay as much as is
possible of whac she should pay is
unjust, on the contrary 1t represents
exact justice, but not less plainly it
carries with IL conditions which
must influence any association Of
the United States with Europe. There
will be no prompt settlement in Eu-
rope, we are in for years OF resist
ance by Germany and pressure by
!
ments. In all this time Germany
will be a sullen If not forceful op-
ponent of these nations who are Ler
Creditors under the treaty. She Will
seek alliances all over the world 20
build up balance of power against
her conquerors and she will pass to
open resistance, il the opportunity
ever arrives.
All of which the French see with
perfect clarity and the two aims of
| French diplomacy and statesmanship
must be TO preserve their own alli-
ance and prevent a German counter
part.
| The United States cannot COM
| promise the differences between
| Germany and her French and other
oonquerors, for the simple reason
\ that the claims of our associates
| upon Germany are just and German
| resistance goes just as much in the
| direction of escaping disarmament
| as payment of reparations.
Sees France Ruined.
The whole difference between
Germany and France, for example,
rests upon the fact that Germany
attacked France wantonly, ravaged
| her provinces deliberately and so
dealt with the nation that II pay
! ment is not made France is ruined
| and Germany wins the war. SO far
as France is concerned. We could
only save Germany by running
France and the chances are that
| France would make German recov-
cry impossible, il reparations were
denied her.
The French believe, and there Is
manifest reason in their view, that
the presence of the United States
in an Anglo French Italian Amer
| lean association would deprive the
Germans Of all hope OF successful
resistance or evasion of the Treaty
Of Versailles and thus clear the way
| for German compliance. The Eng
lish and the Italians believe that
American presence in such an asso-
citation, by insuring French security
would make the partners of France
able to limit in some measure ac-
tivities Of France, which are, to be
sure. based upon legitimate appre-
hensions and natural anxieties.
All Three Want Alliance.
But SO far what all three nations
have in mind is an alliance, no more
and no less, an alliance to maintain
the essential decisions of the Treaty
Of Versailles, an alliance in the ma
ture of things facing a hostile Ger
many for all the years of the dura-
tion of the reparation payments.
which may extend for half a CEN
tury.
Turning from the French to the
British view. for a moment, 1t is
well to note that there Is an es-
sential difference. The British sought
at Paris, not an American partner
ship In a world league. but an Anglo
American partnership to conduct
the affairs OF the world. Together
the two English speaking nations
were. with certain limits, to exer-
else a definite and decisive influence
upon world affairs and world poll
cies. More than all else materially
quite as much as sentimentally. the
league of nations was to represent
the reunion Of the Anglo-Saxo peo-
Pies and the renewal of association
was to bring with II the mastery
Of the world. This partnership was
to undertake as its first obligation.
protection OF France. but there was
no British as there was an Ameri-
can Willingness to underwrite all
the boundaries drawn at Versailles.
Great Britain invariably retires from
the continent after each general war