The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-04

come the silualion between the
French and the British groups here
and so bitter was the feeling In Ey-
rope. that no sooner had the Frenth
answered an unofficial British 1t
tack on the French army by a
championship of the abstract prln-
eiple presented by Mr.. Hughes In
the matter OF submarine fleets. than
we had and still have a read Brit
ish outbreak Of passion. Mr.. HG
Wells could see France already
plotting war. and far more sober
mihoeo BRITISH correspondents
found themselves confronted by a
French submarine fleet constitute
ing a threat aimed directly az
Great Britain.
Now, from the American poiut OF
view. IL is apparent that the whol.
OF the latter phase Of the Wash
ington conference in regard TO a..
AnGlo-French dispute was a case of
nerves. The British Journalists.
attack upon the French army IN
vited and received an official French
riposte in the matter Of the subna.
rine. and the French riposte in the
matter Of the submarine transfer
red the battle from America 10 Fu-
rope and from Seventeenth street
in Washington TO Downing street
in London, while the French bar-
gain with Renal Pasha proyIded
Curzon with the opportunity Tor
such denunciation OF French poliry
as France had resorted TO when
Lloyd George had private con
versation with A German states
man in the matter Of Upper Silesia
IncompatibIIIty Revealed.
As / have said. the thing that -
most impressive to America shor,r
the whole row ~ the degree O.,
which az reveals inconpatfpflftv col.
temper between the English and In.
French. This incompatfbiI7tv -
temper grows out Of mast lFs-o-v
and present necessities. Tile French
occupation Of the Ruhr 20 enforce
German reparation demands would
mean more unemployment and
worse industrial conditions in Great
Britain. On the other hand. Ger
man failure 70 paw rcna-stf0us
might easily lead to financial
crash in France. s German -orov-
cry. Industrial and economical.
would inevitably and Immediately
improve the economic condition in
the British Isles. But uulcrS sr1lh
recovery were accompanied hv =
payment by Germany Of VII. sr.
owes France IL would constitute a
menace to French security without
any onsettinc material advsrtag..
In The course Of tho last Tae
weeks ! have talked with score. 81
French and British rcpreScntlrfs,s
and journalists here in Nasnfnr
ton. Between the points or view -
the two groups there is ? rrFF
which seems impossible TO bridge
ana IL is easier to understand ros-
than ever before this radical q
verCence OF British and French
opinion which has at least partially
paralyzed European recovery fsr
more than three years. The old sa,--
ing that one mans meat is another
mans poison was never more cloa-- 4
~ disclosed as accurate The Eng
lishman believes that Germany IS
paclhed-honestly believes H. On
TINS assumption rests the hone ~
a speedy resumption OF trade. And
this trade does not represent rnsr..
sordid profits. II represents the DIFF
ference between life and deatb for
England herself
The Frenchman on the Other
hand believes-and honestly he
lieves-that Germany is NOT nae
ned, that IL She is permitted o. r.
cover without paying shr WI
presently complete what she began
IN 1873. ana France as a -r,as
power France as an inder,rdcr,
nation in the world. will dissupes-
But beyond Washington there lfrs
The fact OF the European crisis. II
France and Great Britain can r.f
work together Europe is going 60
lie ruined as a consequence. and %.
one can mistake the fact thar rr.
effect Of Washington upou IL.
French will be 10 lead them a. n---
sue more independent policv than
in the past NJ. BRAND has SAVED -fr..
French army from any external
pressure in Washington. Tho army
remains an effective means for CO.,.
lecung the German debt and com
pelling German disarmament II
Germany does not nav. Franc.
means to use her army. Tho use NJ
the army will bring immediate Tn
jury TO Great Britain Therefor.
we shall have British protest. Brit
lsh opposition and British criticism.
perhaps more intense In the future
than in the past.
me quarrel has now been trans
ferrd from American O. ruropea-,
shores The United States has n.
longer any immediate concern in
the battle. But We have been treat
ca TO an amazing illustration Of The
dinlculties which lie IN the way o,
world peace. since two great ma
tions' recently associated in the
most terrific struggle in all OF hu-
man history. bound by common sac
rihce and common effort. united. too.
by hundred years Of uninterrunt-
ed peace. still find themselves nm
able to discover an area of mutual
confidence or basis Of fruitful CO.
operation. To blame one nation or
the other alone or chiefly for this
situation would be unjust To fan
TO appreciate the misfortune TO al!
the world would be impossible.
Copyright. 1871