The Washington times., 1921-11-18
AMERICA TOLD
To BEWARE Of
FRENCH PLANS
BRAND Will Seek Cancellation of
Part Of Debt, Says James
w. Gerard.
BY JAMES w. GERARD,
Former Amba sssdor to Germany.

BY JAMES w. GERARD.
Former Ambassador to Germany.
Copyright. 1921. by the International News
Written Especially for International News
Service.
1t is to be hoped Secretary Hughes
will not lose sight of the immense ad.
vantage given him by the open meth
DDS Initiated at the first session of
the conference. The bright light of
publicity will drive out the Shiny
snake of intrigue and self-interest.
We want Hughes in the open-not
others in whom we have not the same
confidence behind closed doors.
The questions before the conference
are to be decided by great peoples
who have as much right to hear the
discussions affecting their future,
their lives, and their fortunes, and
those of their children and children's
children, as they have to public SEES
sions Of the courts-and 1t has long
been considered in every land that
publicity in court procedure spells
justice.
Star chamber methods prevailed at
Versailles. Let us have light in
Washington.
Gnawing Critics Now Busy.
Secretary Hughes proposition is
accepted in principle by Britain and
Japan. Now comes the gnawing
criticisms, the proposed amendments.
VIII these nullify the original planr
Probably not. We may take it as set
tied that there is to be some agree
ment for a holiday in naval cons.ruc-
ton.
Meantime, and while the delega-
tons Of America, Great Britain and
Japan prepare propositions for the
solution of the question Of the far
East, the French delegates are at
work on the problem Of how thew can
best introduce their demands before
the conference. These demands are
bound up with the question of Ger
many. Personally / think that the
indemnity placed on Germany is far
beyond the power to pay Of that
country.
France had nothing, has nothing to
fear from the kind Of government now
in power. or rather in office, in Berlin
that government is not militaristic
and 1 believe that under such a gov
eminent Germany would gradually be
liberalized and become in thought and
in political feeling somewhat like our
own United States.
Face Financial Ruin.
But a people however Industrious,
however disciplined, may be maddened
by financial ruin-by the prospect OF
for years bearing or paying great an
nuai tribute to another nation like the
slave nations depicted on the bas-
reliefs erected by Assyrian conquerors
and the tearing away of part of Ger
man-Silesia has given the militarists
of the old system a peg on which to
hang their helmets-an excuse to stir
up hatred, revenge and the spirit Of
war.
The British, on the contrary, show
ed more forgiving. as well as a more
diplomatic spirit. They were against
the. partition of Silesia, and 1t is the
French who are today the nation most
hated in Germany.
Americans have great admiration,
great sympathy for France, but Il
is our traditional policy not to make
European alliances, and in view of the
irritation of Germany by certain
French statesmen, our people will
probably in no uncertain manner in
dictate that 1t is not our affair to lilly
ourselves with France against Ger
many whether under the guise of an
agreement for protection or other
wise.
Seeks Debt Remittance.
ANot uo lIIdl dIOlHtT DIODO-
sition which the French delegation
may possibly edvance will meet with
favor. France. having placed a too
great indemnity on the back of Ger
many and finding that Germany
cannot pay, may offer to remit part
Of an indemnity which it is now
plain cannot be collected. providing
we remit the debt which France
owes us. Here again it is probable
that our people will feel that our
fortunes are not SO bound with Ger
many. that our policy with regard
to the debt owed us by France
should be governed by the policy of
France toward Germany.
The French delegation will then
say that they. must keep a great
standing army. AS far as we are
concerned, IL they have so dealt with
Europe in the hour of their victory
that they feel that such an army is
necessary, 1t Is again not our affair.
1t is not our backs that will break
ha h,,r IA,1 -