The Washington herald., 1921-03-13

terms. 30 far As they affect land
conditions---that Is French interests
while making no protest to COM
plete compliance with the naval
conditions which Affect the British.
Last summer her policy moved the
French to the occupation of Frank
fort without British approval, and
therefore put a sudden and danger
Gus strain on Anglo-Frenoh rela-
lions.
Meantime. do not think any
American Is unmindful of the fash
ion in which German propaganda
has been at work in the United
States. at work against both Great
Britain and France, operating
sometimes under the cover Of the
Irish problem. sometimes frankly
exploiting Anglo-American rival
ries, and in a recent instance en-
deavoring to make capital out Of
the wholly false use of the issue of
French black troops and the So
called rhine Horrors"
The underlying purpose in each
instance has been to separate
France from Britain or to embroii
Americans with Britons.
Prepared for Resistance.
Confident that this campaign had
reached satisfactory point, the
Germans came to London the other
day prepared to resist the allied
terms, framed at Paris. Before the
German representatives left Berlin
a campaign had been carried on in
the domestic press and in the reich
stag designed at one time to FIRE
the Germans and to frighten the
enemy. to give the impression that
Germany was united, determined,
than yield to the terms which had
been published in advance as the
minimum of allied requirements.
As it turned out. the London
operation proved as complete a fall
ure AZ the submarine venture of the
war, itself. The Germans had rea-
soned with correctness that the
British public was eager to avoid
new military ventures and new eco
nomic disturbances, but they had
urderestimated the degree to which
the British public still held Ger
many responsible for the war and
ignored the fact that il was unwiil-
ing in the last analysis to let Ger
many put the burden on her VIC
tins.
A reasonable proposal, an appar-
ent willingness to meet possible re-
uuirements, would7 have placed q
heavy strain upon the Anglo French
relations, because the British min
istry could hardly have faced its
own public. after refusal, while no
French ministry could have sur
vived substantial concessions.
simons shows Defiance.
Happily for the world, the Ger
mans misjudged their situation. Be-
fore their spokesman, DR.. Simons,
came to London. he had toured Ger
many, using language at once de-
hant and infiammatory. When he
came to London he reiterated the
substance of his previous speeches
on the home front and gave to
Lloyd George that opening for re-
sponse which the agile Welshman
seized skilfully and used to con-
solidate his own home front. In
stead of dividing British public
opinion, therefore, the Germans once
more, as so often in the war, de-
prived those most kindly inclined
toward them of a single leg to
stand on.
German strategy. therefore, led to
the prompt redressing of allied lines.
Lloyd George, who has favored
steadily for many months
and drawn down upon himself end
less criticism in France, saw him
self suddenly disclosed as the dupe
Of Germany. What he had argued.
that Germany was in a.
mood, that she was striv-
ing to meet the new conditions
that the war had changed
her temper and her purpose. was
demonstrated in a few brief min
utes to have been as. completely
nexact as the arguments of other
British statesmen. before the war,
hat Germany had no hostile pur-
pose in view.
Once more. at a critical moment,
he French estimate of the German
was demonstrated to have been
and psychologically
'xact.
Sides with France.
In this situation nothing was left |
or Lloyd George but to return to
he French side. All his efforts, all |
he efforts Of English, policy for
more than year, fell to the ground. |
Lloyd George, himself. was in Just /
'uch position as Mr.. Wilson found |
himself In. when. in February, 1917,
he Germans suddenly declared their
Unlimited submarine warfare, thus
irving the lie I. all their previous
Wedges and all of Mr.. Wilson's
'arlier assertions. In a word, Ger
nan strategy In London led to swift
md complete disaster.
But unmistakable as is this fact.
Is essential to recognize that the
vents in London cannot permenent-
y dominate the world situation.
ierman policy and German purpose
viii. for many years to come, fol-
ow the lines which have been dis
losed at London and in the events
which preceded London. ..r,
For the moment Germany has
allied to separate France and Great
,ritain. In reality she has thrown \
hem more closely together than
hey have been since the hour Of the
rmistice. But the fact remains that (
british and French interests are
till divergent. The German is
Wholly sound In calculating that
While. France, mainly an aericuI-
urai state. with only moderate
Industrial life and restricted ex-
'ort trade, IL little affected by Ger
nan economic paralysis, the opposite
, the case with Great Britain vho..
resent crisis OF Unemployment IS
Iue In some degree to the closing
the German market and to those
ther Central European markets In
shich the German played the part1
{ q middieman.
Ger..n M.rket sAri.hs.