New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-15
A Conference Guaranty
French Proposal for Reimbursement
of Costs of Defensive War


Sir: ! find in my mail this morning
n printed copy sent me from France
of the resolution, translation of
which follows:
"Resolution adopted by tho section
Of political economy Of the French
Association for the Advancement Of
Science at its congress held at Roucn,
August, 1921.
Whereas, During and since the
war nearly all the sovcreigns and
heads of governments, boNgerent
and neutral, have constantly de-
clared that for it's part their nation
was ready to contribute with all its
means to assure world peace;
"Resolved. That the nations gathered
for the limitation of armament at
the Washington conference upon the
high initiative Of President Harding
shall insure each other mutually and
jointly against the risks of war by
guaranteeing to each other the re-
endorsement Of the expense and
damages Of any defensive war, by
means of contribution paid by the
whole world pro rata to the revenue
remaining to each of the nations
after each war"
The proposal certainly is interest
ing. 1t calls for the carrying out of
words by acts. 1t is practicable. 1t gives
the basis for cooperation between free
nations for the maintenance of their
liberties and for the mitigation Of the
terrible burdens which any one of
the defense of those liberties.
1t strikingly calls attention to the
case of France, who sacrificed every
thing for her liberties, thereby also
defending the liberties of the world,
and who to-day finds herself without
any eparation-except on paper-hec-
tored by those to save whose liberties
with her own she made the greatest
acrifces--greater than theirs-com-
PEELED to undergo the torrents Of hos
tile propaganda appearing in various
guises, under the inspiration oil Ger
many's financial friends.
Even though granting that French
craftsmanship should at the outset Of
the armistice have risked a break with
Great Britain and ourselves rather than
allow France to be content with peace
which gives no adequate security or
PREPARATION, it remains true that the in
Il
separations and security cry out to
heaven, and that there will be no
peace if they are not righted. Franco
is entitled to absolute security and to
suffered, and which VIC and Great Brit
ain did not suffer. These results she
can secure only by whole-hearted agree
gnent OF cooperation on the part of
she still has force on her side, by the
use of that force, to employ a phrase
which once emanated from Washington,
"to the utmost" that she shall be Sc
cure and made whole.
But it should be abhorrent to every
right-thinking American that France
should be denied positive, effectual, re-
liable, American and British co-opera-
ton for security and reparation, and
that at the same time British and
American influence should be exerted
against France obtaining effective Sc
curity and reparation by her own
means. The time has come to speak
out lest pacihsts and pro- Germans be
allowed to create the atmosphere in
which the Washington conference will
function.
The recent revelations in The Trib-
une of the German state of mind. in
connection with the dominating position
assumed by Hugo SHINES and his crowd
have been fully confirmed to me by let
tiers received from Americans in Ger
many. From one such letter just re-
ceiyed l may quote the following: "a
few observations-as | know the Ger
mans well. They have not changed at
all. The German head remains that
which it was: it will seek its revenge
when it believes that the time is come
The shops regorge with wares. Upon
every side there is evidence of tire
mendous activity. You can buy almost
everything"
Must We always wait before taking
effective action for the maintenance Of
world peace until it is all but too late .
Have we learned nothing from the last
war? Having poured out billions to, OBJ
tain a lasting peace, are we unwilling
TO do anything now to make our in
vestment good? Do we owe anything
to those who died? To these questions
it Is hoped the Washington conference
T7lll find answers that will not be eva.
slons. MAURICE LEON.
New York, Sept. 13, 1921.
"Clear-Eyed and Smiling
10 the Editor of Tho T7s;hr,e