The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-11-22

France was militaristic lie made the
stock arguments which have been heard
from French public officials and writers
for the last three years, namely that
Germany had not given evidence of good
faith and could not be trusted to pay her
bill to France.
Thinking About a New War
The whole speech was in defense of the
French idea that at any moment an un-
provoked aggression might develop on the
German border NJ BRAND vent some
what further than usual in drawing a DIS
tinction between the working classes
of Germany which he thought were sin
cereIy DESTROYS of peace and should be
encouraged and the big business and mil
itary elements like Ludendorff, who he
thought were still uncOnquered in spirit
and were thinking about a next war.
To all the suggestions that Germany
was being disarmed, the French premier
cited only the record of German haggling
first over terms and later over the in
demnity settlements as justification for
French precaution His whole philosophy
was that of continental Europe. which
places entire confidence on physical force
and refuses to rely upon moral influence
i'm international behavior. Again and
again Premier BRAND insisted that it was
the existence of Il large French stand
obey today. Security against future in
yaSion as well as the possession of a
means of cOercing Germany to pay rep
arations were NJ. Brands big points
and he talked around and around them.
Originally it was the French position
that if the United States and Great Brit
ain would ratlty n defensive treaty
whereby both powers would come to the
aid of France in the event of ''unproyOked
attack" BY Germany. but since America
failed to ratify, the French have insisted
that they must look out for themselves.
The presence Of a French standing army
has caused other nations in Europe to
feel the need for military forces beyond
their financial ability 10 maintain these
forces. ArthHr James BalfOur, head of the
British delegation, has taken the view
that the tax burdens of Europe viii con
tinHe to make Europe. economically stable
unless the French army is reduced but to
all this the French answer that Great
Britain, like the L. =, has an ocean
'BbundaFy and not an imaginary line on
land over which armies can suddenly
plunge forward as they did in 1914.
We have no hatred in our hearts" ex-
elailned the French premier in one breath
only to read from Ludendorf'S book a
moment later extoliing the philosophy of
war and the spirit of revenge. The
French premier insisted that Germany
still has capacity for military mischief
aud If the task Of defense is left to France
alone her standing army is the best means
If keeping Germany in leash.
Made Big Impression
The French premier with all the ora
torical arts for which French public Off
cialS are famous. made a deep impression
but il cannot be said that the audience as
a whole knew enough about the other
side of the questionable facts about Ger
many-to form a balanced Judgment.
For months the stories from abroad
have been casting doubt about the power
of Germany to make war for generations
to come The impression on the official
mind was hardly changed by the French
premier's address. Like the British,
many Americans feel that the standing
army of France is only keeping alive the
hatreds of war and the fires of possible
conflict But it is recognized that how
ever willing Premier BRAND himself may
be to admit that there is merit in
the idea of reducing the French military
forces as Germany shows more and more
signs of pacific intention, the danger OF
such q speech in its effect on the French
parliament could be foreSeen. Premier
BRAND has been criticized for not being
drastic i'm handling the Germans-there'
an element in France which would order
the military occupation of Germany to
enforce German compliance with treaty
stipulations--nr rather with the French
idea Of what tho Versailles treaty pro.