Evening star., 1921-12-02
Brands Plea for France.

Premier BRAND. it is generally con-
ceded, played his brief part in the
armament conference chiefly for the
purpose Of pleading the cause of
France by his inimitable oratory. He
has spoken and gone, leaving behind
him a multitude of readers and COM
mentators who are coming out Of the
spell of sympathy he cast to appraise
his address both in support and In
disapprobation. The position of
France as declared by her representa-
tive-that without substantial and
positive guarantees from her friends
she must be adequately armed against
her enemies-is regarded by many
American papers as SO clearly right
that she should not be called upon to
defend it. Some go SO far as to say
that the size Of the French army is
no ones affair but Frances. This
group of writer's comedies entirely
with Brands view of the menace OF
Germany, and upholds France In her
method of meeting it. Other writer's
retain their opinion that France is
suffering from bad case of nerves.
but to them none the less. BRAND has
brought the vital conviction that the
French people are absolutely sincere
in these fears. There Is. however.
whom BRAND has not converted to
the French viewpoint, who feel that
a jarring note has been struck In the
conference. and who suggest that the
premier's plea for "moral disarma-
ment" could find an abundant field for
cultivation at home.
IN. BRANDS noble vindication Of the
morality Of France is not only intel
lectually convincing, 1t stirs deep emo
tion," but the New York Tribune Gre
publican) feels "a sense OF Shame" that
France. with her shining record.
should thus be forced ito defend herself
against aspersion! !" In a speech "of
great power" the French Premier has
presented the apologize of France to
the world, and though he spoke in Amer
lea, the New York Times independent
democratic) thinks it was mot to meet
an American accusation. He was really
addressing himself to his European
neighbors and to the cons - rate judg-
ment of other parts Of the world" al
though, In the opinion Of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer independent democratic)
cit was none the less an admirably ef-
fective method for assuring nationwide
dissemination Of the facts which con-
stitute the most effective French propa-
ganda."
France is worse off today than she
has been at any time in fifty years" the
Denver Rocky Mountain News (inde-
pendent) states; "her friends have been
turned into enemies and she has none to
take their places" and while the Chi
cago Post independently admits tnat
with her large army and her position
Of chief warder Of Germany. seems to
stand in opposition to the peaceful cur
rent Of the times" that position is not
primarily due to herself. but to Ger
many" We cannot be surprised. says s
democratic) "if Germany looks less
paciflc to France than it does to US"
It is still distinctly a menace. according
to the Providence Journal Cndepend-
ent). "still in the grip of the old mlli,
tarist crowds" and France is required
by the unfulflled ambition OF her neign-
hor to protect herself" In spite OF this
Condition. France has already made
what the Scranton Times (democratic)
calls "a splendid start toward land dis-
armament." and further than this her
premier declares she cannot go WITHOUT
the support Of other nations. Ihus tne
Florida Metropolis (Jacksonvilie' aemo-
national ideals in one hand, IN the
other national experiences, and these
two must be balanced before limitation
of land armament can be accompilsneo
gut If France knew that she dld
not stand alone" the Cherieston news
and Courier (democratic) is sure that
athe whole situation would be alter
ed instantly" and it agrees with the
New York Globe Independently that
to correct the condition. It is only
necessary for the United states & a9d
England to agree to help defend
France against external aggression"
Indeed, France has in effect refused
to modify her policy, the Cincinnati
ENQUIRER (democratic) believes, until
the nations of the world give her
the guarantees she demands" and the
Boston Post Independent democratic)
interprets Brands speech as prob
ably "a bid for a nch-Anglo-Ameri-
can treaty such as was almost car
ried through two years ago."
BRAND has, the Chattanooga News
feeIs defauded Franco in an nm