Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22
Frances Tragedy of Peace"

france Tragedy OF feace.
The heart Of America cannot fail to
be deeply stirred by Frances tragedy
of peace" as exposed by Aristide
BRAND at yesterdays plenary session
of the armament conference. France,
victor in the most terrible and costly
war of history, must continue to bear
crushing military burden and en-
dure all the attendant economic and
social ills because Germany, the van
quished aggressor in that war, has
not changed her mind" but still cher
ishes thoughts of revenge and plans
for another der tag"
If Americans have not quite under
stood the fear which keeps France in
arms, Premier BRAND made it plain
to them. With 5000, 900 to 1000. 900
trained men in Germany ready to be
armed, and with an industrial organi-
Zation capable Of arming them quick
~, it is France now who must keep
the watch on the Rhine, and to relax
it, she feels, would be to make certain
that the gray hordes would again
sweep down upon her with sword and
fire and multiplied lust for VEN
geance and destruction.
And yet no other nation, perhaps,
so sadly needs that her armament
burdens should be lightened. France
sits as a participant in the Washing
ton conference, but with no chance Of
participating in it's promised benefits
unless some way other than continued
maintenance of her huge army can be
found to assure her safety. Limitation
of naval ornaments would bring small
relief to France. She is not building
ships of war. for the enemy she fears
would not attack by sea. America,
Great Britain and Japan, all better
able far than France to bear the
burden of ornaments, have prospect
OF relief. France has cause to rejoice
only in the good fortune of her friends.
To find a way out for France is as
worthwhile a task as ever challenged
the craftsmanship of the world. That
she should be relieved is vitality neces-
sary to the recovery of Europe and to
the progress and prosperity of peo-
pies everywhere. The Washington
conference cannot adjourn until it at
least has made the effort.
Arthur James Balfour, head Of the
British delegation, who followed
BRAND. might have been speaking for
the American people when he said: IF
that lust the German lust Of con-
quesD should again threaten the
peace and independence of our neigh
Dor, how would it be possible that our
sympathies so warmly extended should
become cold and we, who have done
so much for liberty, see it perish be.
fore making another sacrifice?"
How is il possible to believe that II
the life of France again were menaced
would not be another American gen.
eral there to say: Lafayette, we are
here?
France knows that such are the
sentiments of Britain and America,
but France feels that she must have
some assurance more definite and
binding before she can afford to dis
arm. Premier BRAND made that plain.
Although he did not ask for a formal
pledge of assistance in case of attack,
he did say that such a pledge would
enable France to revise her plans, and
that he believed it would largely re-
move the menace by bringing about
the moral disarmament" G. Ger
many. -
Whether the American people, quick
and sincere as their sympathies are
for France. would consent to the CIV
ing of such a formal pledge cannot
now be said, because the issue never
has been squarely put before them.
As it would be a commitment to a
definite thing for limited period of
time, developing as the logical result
OF just and peace-promoting ending
of the war against Germany which
Congress declared, it would hardly be
an "entangling alliance" such as
Washington warned against: nor
would it involve any surrender of
sovereignty or the creation Of a super
state, such as led to rejection Of the
league of nations covenant. But the
campaign against the league Of ma
lions so aroused the public against
any involvement in the affairs of Eu-
rope that probably only an inspiring
leadership could persuade America to
give France the pledge she so sorely
needs.
80 .<o