Evening star., 1921-12-17
FRENCH TO HOLD OUT
FOR SHIPS DESPITE CRY
OF OTHER POWERS
Continued from First Page.)

France alone. face to face. with grave
differences of opinion between them,
in the near east, and in eastern and
central Europe-differences which more
than once have led them nearly to the
freezing point of friendship. To Britain.
France thinks it has made continual
concessions. both economic and political.
hoping thus to preserve the alliance,
but with the result that Britain merely
presses for more and more concessions.
Offering little or nothing in return.
Britain continually attacks the size of
the French army. but it will not give
France a guarantee against unprovoked
aggression. 1t wants the reparations
figure to be reduced, but it is not will
ing to increase Frances share in the
reparationS above 81 per cent. America
also, as France sees it. looks aSkancc
at the French army. but will not prom,
Use to help France if France is attacked
through no fault of its own. America.
also, wants the German reparations fig
ure reduced, but at the same time. it is
pressing, through Congress and through
many individuals, for the payment at
to America.
The French. frankly. regard the
American debt as blood money.
Britain. they think. did not so much
fight to save France as to save it
ing's personal appointee as ambas.
sador to London, has told the world
that Americas interest in the war
was not wholly unselfish. France
made the heaviest sacrifices in the
property. in human life. 1t lost
million and a half men. plus half a
i million cripples. Its richest territory
was ravaged. Its finances are ruinous.
1t
of the national income from its people
in taxes, it cannot balance it's budget.
Now in addition. the United States.
which lost 100000 men, and which is
taxing its people per cent. and is
economically and financially strong
interest on its debt of dollars. and to
threaten, through certain individuals.
that if France does not, do what
America says, France will have to
pay.
In short, the French are sniarting
under what they regard as bitter In.
Justice. They are Being isolated.
against their will, by British and
American opinion. whisttz dne sssnnaA
ing whatever to helEsInsW sssss
their safety, and they sense grow
ing inclination on the part of the
great Anglo-Saxon powers to combine
in an attempt to dictate to France
WHAT II uo. A'uI ShoS ~
proud, civilized, sovereign people. and
their answer is. no, no. no. and a
thousand times. no. They are ready
to cooperate on an equal basis with
any friendly powers. but take an IN
ferior position, take orders-neverl
The first point in connection with
the Washington conference which
made the French suspicious was the
effort to eliminate French as an Of
fetal language. They have been
pretty much to one side ever since
they came to washington. They
were not admitted to the four-power
pact negotiations until the very last
minute. They were not admitted at
ell to the three-power ratio negotia-
ttons; yet NOW an effort Is being
made, as they see It, to fix their own
navy at a low figure dictated by the
other three powers. They are being
treated, as more than one OF them
has said to me. as an inferior race
something between the African and
the Anglo-Saxon. Gently. but firmly.
they now interpose their quiet word:
I'VE beg your pardon, but just one
minute! Not so fast! We also are
still a sovereign stated"
Such. 1 take it, is the view which.
rightly or wrongly. the French now
hold. Their act is an open revolt
against international Dictatorship.
They still trust that In the end the
United States, which has weakened
the Versailles treaty and all but
wrecked the league on this same Is
sue of sovereignty. will understand.
Copyright 1921