Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-24
The Si1es;an DISPUTE

TT is unfortunate for not only France and
p Great Britain, but also for the whole
- world, that Premiers BRAND and Lloyd
George firmly adhere to Numerically oppo-
site views the question of whether not
Germany should be permitted to defend
against Polish insurgents the territory in
Silesia allotted to the Teutonic republic by
virtue of a plebiscite held under the terms of
the Treaty of Versailles and the direct super
vision of military and political representa-
tfves of the governments allied against the
Central Empires during the world war.
Open and frank discussions have been en-
gagged in and positions taken which would ap-
pear to make more difficult the ultimate ad-
justment of the delicate situation, which, of
course, will be made, even though one or the
other of the statesmen seal his political
doom. 1t is inconceivable that a serious
breach of amity could result from this differ
ence of opinion.
And vet there are close students of history
and political events of recent times who pro-
fess to see more than trivial incident in the
divergence. They think that behind the
background is a more serious clash of two
ancient and opposing ideas.
Frances, lesson of the past half century
has been well learned. She has been bitterly
taught in Bismarcks school of blood and
iron; forty years later the Hohenzollerns and
the Hapsburgs reminded her that her safety
lies in the weakness of her ancient and most
formidable foe. France knows that her
serenity lies in being the greatest of the
Western European powers and she knows
that she cannot be unless Germany is shorn
of her sources of strength, her powers again
TODD mischief to the rest of the world and
especially to France, against whom there Will
always be enmity in the Teuton heart so long
as the Tri-color is planted in Alsace-Lorralne
"On the other hand, England, however gal
1antly she fought side by side with the allies
against the legions of Hindenburg, has never
quite forgotten the days of the greatness OF
France in still another war when the shadow
of Napoleon fell across all Europe and loom
ed across the channel. England fought just
as desperately against French militarlsm then
asrshe did against German milltar1sm IN
1914. 1t must be disquieting to British
! statesmen to see the tide of affairs giving TO
France her strong and proud place IN Europe
Lloyd George may we'll lose his composure
when he sees France making alliances with
Poland, Belgium, Hungary and the little anti
soviet states which have been Topped off from
Russia, however satisfactory it may be to the
rest of the world. France is slowly, quietly,
methodically putting Germany between the
Jaws of wise consisting of herself and Po-
land.
At time when the British Empire is groan-
ingeunder domestic and territorial unrest;
when Ireland is aflame with open rebellon,
Egypt muttering, South Africa dissatisfied
and India in almost open revolt England IS
watching the growing French dominance IN a
disquieted mood. The balance of power IN
Europe seems to be shifting without the
guiding hand of Downing street. and 1t IS not
at all unnatural nor unselfish in Lloyd George
sharply to remind. the Poles Of their treaty
obligations or to warn the French that theJ
cannot ruthlessly build another Napoleonlc
empire on the PROSTATE forms of their former
allies.
Probably the mott unfortunate effect of the
conflict is the cunning satisfaction which Ber-
lin is receiving. They hope to drive the wedge
deep between the allied governments and, al
though unable to win the victory on the bat
tlefe1d still escape just punishment for thelr
crimes against civilization.