Evening star., 1921-11-29
FRENCH |RR|TATED
.0VERSUBMAR|NES
Antagonism Toward Britain
More Acute Than at Any
Time Since Armistice.
BY HIRAM X. MoDERWELL.

BY HIRAM X. MODERWELL.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1921.
P.tRIS, France. November 29.-The
submarine discussion in Washington
has aggravated the French irritation
into almost open hostility. The tone
Of the French newspapers may be
represented by the statement that
England and France must lay all the
cards on the table or go their sepa-
rate ways" but private conversation
is even more vigorous. France be-
lieves that the English talk in Wash
ington about limiting or abolishing
the submarine, coupled with Lord
Curzon's speech warning France that
she cannot depend entirely on her
own resources. shows that Britain in
tends that France shall not be al
lowed to act in Europe without Brit
ish approval.
Great Britain, on the othter hand, is
stirred by frances demand that her
submarine feet shall be equal to that
of Britain. England recalls that
whereas France If 'blockaded could
sources, England, II blockaded. would
starve In a few weeks. She remem-
bers with a shudder how near she
came to famine under the German
scious of the fact that military ex-
perts generally are agreed that IL
Germany had captured Calais she
could probably have made the British
fleet impotent with long~range guns
and could have invaded England. This
Lot, All of Z lit,1,
newspaper comment on the French
attitude.
Sharp at All Points.
The Anglo-French difference is now
sharp at all points where the two ma
tions have a foreign policy. These
in the order Of their Importance may
be listed as follows:
i. Naval ornaments.
2. German reparations.
3. The French treaty with the Ke-
malists in Anatolia.
4. General policy toward Poland.
5. General attitude toward Russia.
But above and including all these is
the English balance of power policy
pursued on the continent for many GEN.
turies. This policy. clearly distinguish
able since Cromwell's time, was recently
re-expressed in Lord Curzon's speech in
which ne said that the conscience of
the world would not tolerate the reap
pearance Of great and dangerous
power to be a perpetual menace to the
peace of Europe. 1t has been Frances
historic policy to become the dominant
power on the European continent and
strongest opponent = usually Austria.
but Prussia under Frederick the Great
and Bismarck.
Antagonism Is Acute.
Now that France has attained to a
degree Of dominance in continental Eu-
rope. which she has not possessed hitherto
since the days Of Charlemagne, except
for few brief yaers under Napoleon.
she believes that England is. Determined
to prevent her from exercising this pre-
dominance. On the other nand, some
of her military theorists are convinced
that tde new military technique. which
includes airplanes. submarines and
chemicals. has obliterated the English
superiority IN powers gained from her
control of the seas The impression of
neutral observer is that the an
tagonism is now far more acute than
at any other time since the armistice,
and that it will lead to a conflict unless
profound change in the temperament
and policy Of both nations produces the
cancellation of their respective tradi-
tional policies.
It seems likely that the present. tension
will reach a critical stage with the dis
cussion of the future policy toward the
German reparations This should take
place after Prime Minister Lloyd
Georges return from Washington. prob
ably in January.