Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-10
FRANCE IMPATIENT OVER
COLLECTION OF WAR DEBT
BY RENE vTvIANI
Former Premier of France
Especial Cable Service to The Journal

Copyright, 1921
PARIS, May 1.-THE die is cast.
Germany's i'll will, so often demon
strated that doubt about it no longer
exists anywhere, forced the London
conference to decisive action. History
can never say that the debtor was
not given notice. 1t is now nearly
two years since Germany signed the
treaty, fixing May 1, 1921, as the
final limit. By that date Germany
was expected to have discharged a
only has she failed to discharge
them, but she has played fast and
loose with other clauses Of the treaty
and has not Obeyed the moral law of
her own signature.
From the moment of her failure
the world was faced with a question
which regretfully we must now re-
solve by force, having exhausted all
our resources of cancellation.
This simply is a Quesuon. as TO
whether France, for the crime of
having resisted with the allies an I'M
justified aggression must besides
suffering deep bloody wounds, under
| go economic ruin. We are told Ger
many is in the same fix. But that
is more than doubtful. But even if
it be true, and one must suffer ruin,
why should 1T be France? Why
should the innocent pay for the gull
ty? What nation or man could feel
ease of conscience or security of life
bewildered ages? Who would de-
sire to communicate to the tragic but
glorious history of human liberation
such a stain of immortality?
Must Pay for Wrong
Governor Miller, Of New York, in
splendid speech delivered in my
presence on April. II, said this in
| implacable but just terms:
who did the wrong must repair
it. 1t is humanity's law. That law
will be enforced
And it will. 1 trust that reproach-
es Of imperialism" against us will
cease, and that sensitive eyes will
tears. This manifestation of sensi-
tiveness during recent months is a
curious paradox. Tears for the con-
quered are signs of comprehensive
generosity when the conquered are
innocent and not butchers.
Tears should be kept for those who
suffer and weep, for our children, for
Americas children, for all the allied
dead, for justice to the widows and
orphans and the inhabitants of the
devastated regions, robbed of all their
possessions. These devastated reg
ions, in area Of an economic import
ance which corresponds to Connecti-
cut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
put together.
Where would justice be if we were
not paid? How can it be called i'm
perialism merely to collect a debt.
Imperialism means the coVeting or
territory, of outlets and Of DONNA
ton of the world, economically and
militarily. Wherein are our evil in
tentions? Who has a right to charge
us herewith? Who in America is
sufficiently credulous to harken to
such nonsense?
They say, Germany cannot pay.
That is quickly said and has been
said for a long time. The very day
after the treaty was signed, before
any investigation of Germany's re-
sources could be made, it was as
serted she would be unable to pay.
German Example
Did she ask US how much we We're
months of war conducted entirely
on our territory, and with Germany's
economic power totally untouched,
she exacted five billion francs? Five
billions then, according to financial
experts, account of money depreci-
Note that fifteen billions for six
months war means and one hundred
and twenty billions for four years
war and that the accursed war oc-
Cured on our territory, and exceeded
in ferocity the widest dreams Of
imagination.
Now has come the final calculation
of the Preparations commission, whose
jurisdiction Germany herself accepts.
This calculation again diminiShes our
claims, which are now at a low
level after repeated reductions, Yet
we do not complain. We accept the
decision although it is disappointing.
Let Germany do likewise.
In a few days we will occupy the
Ruhr district. Not to modest and
brutalize the inhabitants, as is Ger
many's habit, but merely to take
economic measures. Why this delay?
To give Germany a chance to make
further proposals, says England. l
confess L don't understand this. No
matter how many proposals Germany
compelled to. The moment pressure
is relaxed she will stop payments.
How long will this scandal last? Our
situation has been pitiable for a
long time. 1t is now fast becoming
ridiculous.