New-York tribune., 1921-11-22

| Wen. that Prussia. which seemcd prac-
t'caiiy disarmed, which was harmless
| to all intents and purposes. we found
i ncr agnin on tho battlefield and we
were nearly bled white. How can we
forget that?
"Of course. We know what ia ofte,,
said OF the French people. 1t is often
| aasd that we are a frivolous nation and
| that naturally when the danger is
passed we turn our minds to other
things just as befits frivolous people.
Evidently, gentlemen, we are not the
| sort OF men to keep our eyes steadily
fixed on whatever is sad and depress
ing. We have not been doing that since
the war, but we have been too deeply
wounded, might say almost murdered
to forget the direful lesson which has
just been taught us. Gentlemen, there
are too many homes in mourning in this
country, there arc too many men in
the streets that are disabled and
manned. Even il we wanted to forget
we could not.
Therefore, we have not the right
ana we do not intend to leave France
defenseless. France must, to all in
tents and purposes, protect herself.
Such is the situation so far as we
are concerned. You will grant me, gen
tlemen, that it is serious enough. But
that is not all. But what about the rest
OF Europe Apparently Europe is at
peace, although here and there on the
j ground certain volumes Of smoke Just
arising seem to indicate that the Are
is not cxtinguished everywhere might
say that this fire is smoldering in GER
tain parts Of Europe and if France had
not had an army war would already
nave broken out in Europe again.
| What VIII Russia Do,
Il will just draw your attention to
one subject, to which may refer later
on, and that is the subject of Russia.
Russia is q country of 1?0. 900 900 men,
which is actually boiling over with an
archy. They have an enormous stand
ing army, which is in theory 100000
men, but which has practical strength
OF 100000 men. What will Russia do ?
Who can cay what will happen on that
SIDE? About year and half ago
there was wild rush of Russia on
Europe. Russia tried to rush Poland
and through Poland to reach Germany,
where some people we're beckoning to
them. Gentlemen, we had at that time
known terribly anxious hours in France.
If the barrier had not held good, if
that anarchic army had been able to
JOIN the people who were calling them
OF the other side, what would have
happened? Where would France be and
where would the rest OF Europe be
Happily there was the French army,
which was the soldier of order for its
own account and for the sake of the
world.
"The situation in Russia is far from
being settled. 1t is sort of perma-
/ nent anxiety to everybody. What will
become of that enormous army? What
could or might Germany do in order
to equip Russia and exploit her? We
know not. There arc so many prob lens
economic, financial, ctc.-with which we
!. have to deal that really, gentlemen, we
do not know to which to turn, but the
i greatest problem of all, the greatest
question, is life. First Of all, we must
be able to live. That is a sort of
question mark in France. Thanks to
QUE allies, to whom our gratitude will
remain everlasting, thanks to their eff
forts, we have been able altogether to
insure the life, liberty and dignity of
men; but, gentlemen, I trust YOU
will certainly feel the weight of NV
argument and recognize that we are
faced with very terribly serious stu
alton.
Peace Menace Far Distant
! "When we say we contemplate a re-
duction Of naval arniaments, when we
discuss it with ourselves, heart to
heart, we could have nothing in our
minds. We were speaking between
friends. There is no threat of war;
if there is any menace to peace it is
so far distant that you can hardly con-
ceivc it, and yet you have not assumed
the rights of ignoring this danger alto
cynfher Va, ir+apT ~ Ioop vn,,r no,,; n =
to the extent necessary to defend your
liberties and insure your life.
"While, if you do that, gentleman, on
the sea, what shall we do when the
danger is there at our doors and hang
ing over our heads?
"lf there were any statesmen-and as
one | may say that l have always been
! in favor of peace; / have assumed
powers for the sake Of peace in very
difficult conditions, vnere my country
was feeling natural impatence at the
state OF things | formally have attached
myself to the cause or peace, / fas-
tened my heart on that noble task, and
may say that If ever peace is to be
disturbed in the world l shall not be
the one to disturb it, But, gentlemen,
precisely because / have urged every
body on the road of peace, because I
have done everything in my power in
order TO obtain peace, I feel all the
more the great weight of the responsi.
bility which ! have assumed, and if to-
morrow, because shall have been too
{ optimistic, l saw ny country again
attacked, trampled under foot, bleeding
because had weakened her, gentlemen,
| should be most despicable traitor.
at is that situation which we have
got to take into account, gentlemen, and
the weight Of the responsibilities with
which we are burdened.
"Only the other day the course Of
events turned in such a way that it
certainly became acute, as you know,
in Upper Silesia. have already re-
ferred to this subject. Germany, who
did not think that the French people
were ready TO undertake a military
operation, suddenly informed US that
she was going to send the Rechswehr
on the spot in Upper Silesia in order to
preserve order.
"These were momentous times for
us. and although l have been through