The New York herald., 1921-08-07

blOu. Inc SdleLy Oh France, ueI SloIy
( and power demand upon keeping Ger.
many poor. and at all costs and all
risks that shall we do"
France hasn't the least intention
OF relinquishing the left bank of the
Rhine. She has every intention Of
handing over the rich Industrial dis
tricts in Upper Silesia to Poland and
so drain Germany OF one of her chief
sources of wealth and power. She is
prepared to see Germany fail insthe
payment of indemnities and to force
her to fail II necessary in order to
have a pretext for applying fresh
sanctions and breaking up Germany
by economic seventies.
Now that, in my Judgment. is rea-
sonable and logical policy. except for
one flaw in the argument and one
moral law. The flaw Is just this: All
countries in Europe and many beyond
Europe depend for their recovery Of
trade upon an industrial revival in
Germany, Austria. Poland, Russia and
the Baltic States, and they will not
support a policy which destroys all
chance of that for the sake even OF
French security. If France pursues
that policy she will be alone in Eu-
rope, except for Poland. which is bank
rupt. unstable and anarchical.
Such a policy may succeed for fif-
teen, twenty or twenty-five years, but
the time will come when France will
no longer be able to support a great
standing army, and when Germany
broken to bits, maybe, and separated
into many isolated communities OF
German folk. poverty stricken and
desperately enraged. will reunite in a
great wave of racial passion and will
relight the fires of hell. That is the
flaw in the French argument which
thrusts itself into British minds. They
believe that French policy along
those lines is suicidal and bound in the
long run to bring down Europe into
the CULTS of ruin by another monstrous
war for our children or our children's
children.
Severe Test OF Friendshtp.
But there is a moral aspect to the
French policy which cannot be ignored
over this Upper Silesian question,
which Is Frances test of British
friendship. France says we are bound
In honor to support our Polish allies.
England says we are bound In honor
by our own pledge to abide by the re-
suit of the plebiscite. To all impartial
students of history there can be no
doubt that Upper Silesia is strictly and
lawfully German. built up by German
wealth and industry, colonized by Ger
man folk half thousand years ago.
never a part of Poland, never claimed
by Poland until the Peace Conference.
less than three years ago. and with
a mixed population speaking special
dialect which is no more Polish than
German.
Korfanty and his bands are insur-
gents and not local inhabitants de-
manding self-government. 1t seems
clear. therefore, that the French de-
mands In behalf OF Poland are not In
accordance with international justice,
but are based on a policy of self-inter-
est and self-defence, which might be
justified in an expediency for the peace
Of the world. But 1t is the conviction
Of most English people that the fulfill
ment of this policy would make Tor
future war and would quite destroy all
chances OF some system of gradual dis
armament which most of US hope may
follow the Washington conference.
France and England Will continu-
ally compromise on their points OF
difference, but there will be increasing
evaporation which is already divorc-
ing the public opinion of both coun-
tries. unless the French mfno1ties
who see eye to eye with US prevail, or
what is more possible, unless the
French people. who az whole are
anti-miltarist in instinct and only are
supporting the present policy for the
sake of national security, realize the
appalling danger to tkeir future II
they are isolated.
Must Assure French safety.
II is necessary to assure the French
people Of safety by other means than
by breaking up Germany, and that
may be done. think, by demobilizing
Russia. without whose military sup
.u.-4 carr,an,, pyotild he imD0tent in