Evening star., 1921-07-03
A Franco-German Understanding ?

The eagerness in certain English
circles for an alliance with France is
only one of the straws indicating that
the European wind is blowing toward
a cessation of quarreling between
France and Germany and. therefore
toward united Europe. Thus the
Stampa of Rome says. commenting on
an article in the leading semi official
French newspaper:
The Temps declares recently that
France ought to have a German pol
icy If we compare these words with
other declarations made by the Temps
on the dissensions which are upset
ting Europe, and with its statement
that the present French policy leads
only TO number of Franco-German
conflicts where England plays the ar
bitretor's part. with the advice II
gave the other day not to lose sight
of the forest on account OF the trees,
which means not to lose sight of the
world policy on account of middle
Europe: if we compare all these signs
we might ask if there is not ten
dency today in France toward di.
rect agreement between France ana
Germany, without England-that is
to say, toward a continental policy
independent from an English policy.
This tendency has come into exist
ence through the affairs of the Ruhr
and Upper SileSia.
I'm both cases England upheld the
thesis favorable to Germany, France
the anti-1erman thesis. This simple
reflection makes us inclined to state
a. paradoXical fact: Part OF French
opinion seems to incline to a policy
of reconciliation with Germany just
because England had n pro-German
German through being anti-Ger-
In order to realize such a policy"
saws the writer, France would have
to give up her designs against Ger
many to which England is opposed.
We cannot imagine German
policy on the part of France want
ing to inf1ict damage on Germany
that she was not able to do in agree
ment with England. 1t would be
a doubly incomprehensible policy. be.
cause first of aH Germany would
repulse any agreement with such an
unfavorable basis. and then France
isolated could not succeed where she
failed in agreement with England.
1--WE can say SO much for French
intentions, however. since they were
officially announced by BRAND in
parliament, that they mean to help
Wirth in his policy of carrying out
the treaty and of consolidating thus
the internal situation of Germany.
But this consolidation cannot take
place if Germany has to submit to
new and greater hardships. such as
the loss of Upper Silesia and the oc-
cupation of the Ruhr. This consoli-
dation will take place; on the s;n,. etn.
trary, If. in exchange for the policy
Of carrying out the treaty effectively
begun by the Wirth ministry. France
of Germany and would do away with
the sanctions now in vigor on the
But France seems to be far from
this state of mind. And we may al
most wonder whether these pro-Ger-
man tendencies are anything else but
a maneuver destined to make an i'm
preston on England, to bring her
back to the French fold and conclude
Franco-British alliance. SO much
desired, against Germany. The ma
neuver would be ingenious. But
England knows very well that no
Franco-German understanding is pos
sible until France gives up soma of
her anti-German ideas. She Is sure
until then to remain mistress Of the
situation"