Evening star., 1921-11-24
FRANCE HAS HOPES
NATIONS WILL GIVE
FIRM GUARANTEES
Failure to Make Specific
s Pledge for Protection Not
Regarded Discouraging.
MORAL BACKING viewed
AS AMPLE FOR PRESENT
Premier BRAND, on Eve of De-
parture, Expresses Satisfaction
Over Cordial Sentiments Voiced.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

BY N. o. MESSENGER.
Omission Of presentation to the
armament conference Of specific
pledge of the former allied and asso-
ciated powers to guarantee protection
to France in case Of that nations
material reduction Of land forces is
not regarded by the French delega-
tion as defeat Of their object. 1t is
held that the moral support contained
in the declarations of the last plenary
session Of the conference serves the
purpose for the present.
Premier BRAND, on the eve Of his
departure from Washington, express
ed satisfaction with the cordial senti-
ments expressed toward France, in
the circumstances Of her own especial
problems and position, and avowed
himself as content for the time being
at least with the assurance of the
moral backing, next best in value to
definite promise of aid.
Likely Future Action.
Naturally he hopes that before ad-
journing the conference may go a
step farther and announce in terms
more explicit response to the French
desire for the allaying of all appre-
hension in the future. Whether that
hope may be realized is an uncertain
quantity at this time. The drift Of
sentiment appears to be to let the
spoken words of the plenary session
stand as sufficient guarantee to
France.
Should there be change in the at
titude of the conference later, to the
more definite comfort of France, it
would be due to two possible elements
specialization of public sentiment
i'm this country in favor of entering
France and an outburst of French ex-
preston demanding material promise
instead Of the moral aid now pro-
posed.
AS to the first suggestion. public
interest In this country in favor of
an enlarged program of support 1t is
thought that it would depend upon
the -amQnnta-of clamorr raised In
France for additional promises. In
other words. if the French people
the delegation express themselves as
being with the offer Of moral strength
held out, the American public would
probably be satisfied to let it go at
that"
May he Political Issue.
1t is readily recognized that an is
sue might be raised in American poll
tics by a proposition to write out a
formal declaration of intent to stand
by France in certain exigencies. No
one at this moment has the right to
claim possession OF sufficient knowl-
edge of the actual state Of public
sentiment in this country to warrant
prediction of the outcome Of such an
issue, although all surface signs point
to widespread sympathy with France
and deep and sympathetic under
round and menace her.
There is no question. it is thought,
that there would be material indrose-
ment of more definite stand in Frances
support, and neither can it be denied
that a potential bloc in the United
States Senate would oppose it, unless
convinced that it was the overwhelm-
ing demand Of the country at large.
Expected Phase.
Looking forward to the ultimate COM
position of the conflicting views en-
gendered in the branch, of the confer
ence dealing with far eastern questions.
II Ia pointed out that this Is only a
phase naturally to be expected in the
formative process now going on and
does not stand as an omen Of failure.
1t is suggested that the concur
renee of the powers in the principle
and spirit of the determination of the
far eastern problems Is a fixed fact of
record in the proceedings and that the
application Of the principle to detail
would necessarily involve friction, ex-
preston of divergent opinions and
analyses, without foreshadowing fail
ure.
That the great international meet
ing would at all times take the form
of an old-fashioned religious "love
feast, is not contemplated by the
hard-headed and practical men who
are taking part in it. But neither
does it follow, it is claimed, that the
differing views are unsusceptible of
being reconciled through concession
and the give and take spirit which
seems peryaSiye of the conference