The Washington herald., 1921-01-28
When all the Establishments of life are gone
The coward sneaks to death, the brave live
on.-George Sewell

ME late OF the BRAND cabinet will be watched
with the greatest interest since it appears to
be the last step in compromise between the
factions headed by President Millcrand and former
President Poincare
If the BRAND ministry falls, there appears to
be no alternative for the President Of the republic
but to call upon NJ Poincare to form cabinet
and to relnquish the control OF the negotiations
concerning the German indemnity to those who ad-
Focate the use OF the strong arm, if necessary,
force Germany to pay If NJ. BRAND remains in
power it will be through his adherence to the
policy satisfactory to Poncare and his supporters.
1t is easy to understand the source OF NJ. Pon-
cares strength. Phe French tax rate, which be-
fore the war I2o francs per capita, is now 574
francs per capita The financial situation which
under the recent administration OF Francois-Marsal
has been the subject OF optimistic official pronounce
ments, is now regarded with the darkest pessimism
Officials OF the government now declare that
the gulf in the countrys finances is growing deeper
every day, and nothing is being done fill it."
France, it is said, is being stranged under bur-
den Of 10000, 100000 francs per annum spent on
reparations and pensons-a which is wholly
uncovered by
French taxpayers naturally watching the
situation very carefully and the government which
gets their support is the that will promise that
these burdens shall not be increased and will offer
some hope that they will be reduced. The obvious
way to achieve this is by abjuring the policy OF
compromise and forcing Germany to pay.
1t is upon such platform that Nationaists
have been able to increase their power and bring
about the fall of Leygues and veto the ministry
proposed by Peret.
In the face Of this the advocates OF negotiations
to determine the amount OF indemnity are forced
to argue from expediency. But any assertion that
there is danger to France well to the Of
Europe in making this indemnity more than Ger
many pay. can be easily dismissed either as
German propaganda policy which would
make France suffer instead of her enemy.
Lloyd Georges insistence on negotiations it is
intimated due to the fact that the British having
received the greater part OF their indemnity are
interested in German economic recovery than
in German payments to France.
For American consumption it is said that France
is planning on using part OF the German in
demnity to pay America, and if the 100000 to
100000 gold francs counted upon are not forth
coming in one form another. payment to the
United Statss must be indefinitely deferred.
Almost anything may happen if NJ Poincare
and his friends carry their policies to the
limit which would mean ignoring completely British
and American disapproval and perhaps eventually
occupying the Ruhr.
Some of the Natonalists maintain that this is
the only way by which France can obtain ADEQUATE
reparstion from Germany. In some circles it is
even held that with the Ruhr and Westphaia in her
hands, France could afford to overlook the nonpay-
ment of repsrations even if Germany should 90
under.
For the French to adopt any such aggressive
policy would, of course, be madness and would in
volye Europe, including France, in difficulties in
hnitely worse than those with which it is now con-
fronted. However attractive may appear the pros
pect Of solving Frances present troubles at the
expense of the rest Of Europe the price France
would pay in the end is too great.
Il POncsre and his friends have gained their
power through raising the hopes of the French
people that their present problems can be solved
by shaking the mailed fist at Germany and striking
with it if necessary These hopes once raised can
not be easily disPelled and the demands for their
fulhllment will become increasingly urgent as time
passes
- is possible that those leaders who have been
raised to power this issue will discover that thew
have set in motion force that they can with diff
Guilty control, but which uncontrolled can plunge
their country in abyss deeper than that from
which IT seeks to escape.