Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-10
NAPOLEON ST|RS
FRENCH AMBITION
BY WILLIAM BIRD.
Especial Cable Service to The ournal.)
Copyright, 1921

PARIS, May 1.-THE celebration
this week of the Napoleon centenary
under governmental auspices has had
contrary effect from what was an
ticipated. Occurring mimultaneous-
ly with the mobilization of troops
for the Ruhr occupation, it was ex-
pected to stimulate reflection upon
the past military glories Of France
and fire the reluctant French popu-
lace with enthusiasm for the new
venture.
Although holiday crowds turned
out in respectable numbers and many
influential newspapers had devoted
columns to preparing the public
mind, the dose was too. strong for
war-weakened stomachs to stand.
The Napoleon celebration smacks too
strongly Of conditions the war was
supposed to end.
The written and spoken eulogies
Of the emperor have sounded more
like apologies. All except the Bona
partist press feel obliged to explain
carefully just wherein Napoleon as
an emperor differed from Wilhelm
as an emperor, and, why, apart from
nationality, it is fitting to celebrate
one while execrating the other.
Many Frenchmen frankly regret
that the celebration was undertaken
and particularly that the government
should have lent it's support. The
socialists, of course, have made the
most of the opportunity to cry i'm
perialism" and "militarism" at the
present regime. 1t appears, indeed,
to have been a serious error of judg-
ment and the government must be
charged with a move which has un-
doubtedly sickened and diSheartened
great many sincere republicans.
The class Of 1919, discharged from
the service only month ago, has
been remobilized and has donned the
uniform with less confidence and en-
thusiasm than might have been the
case if the name of Bonaparte had
not been dining in their ears.
Thus the occupation Of the Ruhr
district. if it takes place next week,
cialist elements are now weakly or
gained, but have gained strength
and support through the Napoleon
blunder. Their protests against the
Ruhr occupation, which only a week
ago seemed negligible, are now caus-
ing uneasiness and demands already
are heard in semi-official quarters
for the censorship Or suppression of
their propaganda. 1t will, of course,
be difficult to justify a censorship
IN the absence of a state OF war and
thus occupation measures may well
give the extremists the opportunity
they have been waiting for to re-
consolidate their forces.
This danger of stirring up anew
the internal troubles of France is
only one of the many incidental risks
which sane elements are seeking to
avoid. Persistent reports that Ger
many at the eleventh hour will ac-
cept the London terms and thus fore
stall the occupation plans, are re-
ceived, therefore, with considerable
feeling Of relief, only papers of the
extreme right such as the EchoA de
Paris maintaining that the occupa-
ton shuold proceed even if the Ger
mans meet the terms imposed upon
them.
At the same time the acceptance Of
the London plan by Germany ought
not to create the false impression
that the Preparations question would
thereby be settled any more than
peace was created by the mere sign
be but another breathing space for
negotiations. allowing time for the
United States to take a hand in
framing the final settlement In 9th
err words the allied debts to America,
as competent Europeans long have
understood, must be treated together
with the PREPARATIONS as one problem,
inasmuch as the two questions are
merely twin parts of financial &C
counting for the war.
Not France, but America, in the
final analysis. is Germany's biggest
creditor.