Evening star., 1921-10-19

and the practical expression OF Tue
individualist philosophy of the eight
eenth century-is in it's very essence
spirit of peace. Peace in it's high
est expression which proclaims the
right both of individuals and or ma
tions to live and be respected: last
ing peace, because political power en-
trusted to the majority insures the
welfare of the greatest number ana
because legislation inspired thereoy
is repugnant to preparation for war
and the increase of ornaments.
Military Habits Lost.
France, the most warlike of ma
tions on the field of battle, had in
peace lost her military habit of mind
At the top, painful controversies. ike
the Drcyfus case. had brought about
a cleavage between the political lead
erS and the military chiefs; at the
bottom the easy leisure of Inational
existence provoked frequent protests
against the obligations imposed by
the military training of the na1ioh.
In 1905 at the very moment when
Germany was beginning to rattle her
saber. the term of compulsory service
had been reduced by third.
Three years later, in 1908. an even
worse imprudence had reduced the
period of instruction of the reserves.
a measure in fragrant contradiction
with the former, as the shorter the
time spent in the initial training Of
recruits the more thorough and COM
plete should be the instruction given
to the reserves. In a word. no one
believed war possible. No one be-
lieved it possible because its stroci-
ties were repugnant to mems or
binary vision. No one believed 1t
possible because no one wanted war.
and that being the case. nobody oe-
lieved that others wanted 1t. Not a
Frenchman would have supported his
"ny II.
Too many F'renchmep made the mis-
take of Judging Germany by what
France was. and of SuppoSing Ger
many incapable of that which they
knew France herself to he incapable
Of Any one who recalled the past
in order to throw light upon the
future and to dispel dangerous
sense of security met with diSap-
proval.
Own Experience Ten Wears.
have Il right to say this and to
recall that for ten years 1t was my
own experience. 1t took ten years
of German threats and biackma1 to
make the French government. IN
1913. take precautionary measures
which, being hurriedly improvised.
were naturally imperfect and lncom.
pIetc. France. full of optimism and
faith in the progress of mankind
would not listen to talk of war.
France would not listen to talk of
var for another reason Conscious OF
her past defeat, and unconscious OF
her present strength. France inclined
to the belief that war would only bring
fresh reverseS. At the beginning of
the Moroccan crisis and in the course
of it's evolution. there were not lack
ing political men and parties who
proclaimed that France was not
ready" dangerous talk in country
where the public mind is prone to
believe bad news rather than good.
The Frenchm4h is not loath to speak
i'll of other peoples: even when they
arc his friends: but he is even reader
to speak i'll of himself 1t has often
been. remarked that in 1914 America
and Great Britain knew very little
about us. and did not even suspect
the reserves of energy and of abne-
CATION which the war called forth.
lf America and Great Britain did not
know France, their excuse is that
France did not know herself. Read
the French papers from 1900 to 1914
and see if you can find the slightest
hint Of the splendid picture that the
following months are to PRESENT.
i not there. Petty quarrels of poll
,Iciaus and parties. magnified by the
press distorted the view not only of
foreigners. but of FrenChmen as well.
The true France was hidden. 1gno-
rance Of ones strength leads men to
seek the path Of least resistance.
People said. and economists taught.
that war was impossible" People