The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-12-08
TRADE PRIMARY WITH ~
ENGLAND, FRANCE HOLDS
(Continued From Page -


sian bonds. The Soviet government
repudiates these debts. In the eyes
of the French bondholders any deal
ings with the Soviets, especially trade
relations, serves to strengthen the
Bolshevik regime and lessen just that
much the chances of their bonds ever
being paid. t. 4 @.c>a,. .-~. e..
Until the Bolsheyiks agree to pay
Russia's debts, France can never
equinamity any nation resuming re-
lations of any kind with them-least
of all her former allies.
France recognized and backed
Wrangel because he promised to erect
a stable government upon democratlc
principles and recognize the Russian
debt. England chose not to deal with
Wrangel. France cannot see where IL
was any crime to act as she did.
Lloyd Georges attitude upon the
Upper Silesian problem touched an
even more vital spot--that OF national
security. The coal and iron mines OF
the Siles:an basin constitute a veri-
table potential arsenal, comprising all
the basic materials for making war:
Naturally, France was vitality inter-
ested in seeing that Germany got as
little of the industrial basis as was
consistent with, the plebiscite results.
She frankly feared that some way
Germany might use this "arsenaP' IN
another war against her. Also natu-
rally France preferred to see her ally
Poland get the lions share.
mi - ca
scrambled, owing to the mixture OF
races, that the exact partition line
was a debateable question. England
promptly took sides against Poland
which, in the French view, virtually
meant supporting Germany. England
claimed the major portion should go
to Germany. France claimed it should
go to Poland. French public opin-
ion cannot grasp the reasons for
England's attitude. The knotty prob
lem was handed to the League OF Ma
tions. But .Frenchmen cannot but
think that they were treated unjustly
by their former ally. .s$is@4 ~.
Perhaps the thing that smarts most
is England's position regarding repa-
rations. /, It is charged that England
has consistently tried to make mat
ters as easy as possible for Ger
many, usually at the y expense OF
France. It is emphasized that Eng
land will worry little if she never gets
cent from Germany. She has &C
complished the ruin of the competing
German merchant marine and the
German navy is at the bottom of the
sea. Her homeland is untouched by
war. 1921
But for France with millions OF
acres of her richest provinces ano
towns laid waste, the question of rep
arations is almost matter Of life anc
i death. She has already advanced ovel
II six billions Of francs to her country
men on Germany's account for rep
Earations. ~ j,,, 49,, ...s,55s4 u
+ It is widely charged that both il
fixing the amount Of reparations ant
in executing the collections, England
has. held back. And France is TIL
main sufferer. -. ~ p. .%-.&t ,
| AS far as Frenchmen can perceive
, England's policy toward German,
and Russia is not animated, by an,
love of these countries, but in the in
: terests Of her foreign trade. Sh
, wants these countries rehabilitated s
she can sell them goods. But ever
cent of profit under such, circunl
. stances comes right out of the pocket
book of France, the French claim.
The Weisbaden agreement wa
= merely an effort by France to- &c
some Of her money while the gettin
t was good. Germany could and woul
4 furnish material for reparation. TIL
e would avoid the interminable waitin
e for money payments. England di
: not object. It was only after tn
II Franco-kemalist accord that Englan
developed acute objections, but onl
. to the method and not the fac
i Frenchmen cannot understand why.
. The most recent divergence ws
q over the Franco-Kemalist accord. N,
body was more surprised than tt
French foreign office when Englar
! objected. France asserts that En-;
land was informed of the basicgIin,
Of the projected accord in London
! March and again in April. There W,
I no objection. So France went ahea
i Within a few days after the concl
!. sion Of the accord, England sudden
i discovered serious objections. BY Il
! unusual method Of communiq,
< from the British embassy to Il
y French press, the British foreign Q
= fee pointed out FIVE instances whe
:. the accord differed from the ide
p they had Of the accord France CLAIM
these differences are merely diffe
ences in form. England claims thu
4 are in substance. = .,a.s -.
. Another matter that irritat,
Downing Street, viz; the suggesti'
that the Quai d'Orsay may have !
stigated the publication of the alleg
I secret Anglo-T Turkish treaty is ea
+ to controvert. The French foreil
Z office was the first to announce 7
/ next morning after publication tn
: they believed it TO be u "canard,