The Washington herald., 1921-11-03
ny FRANK II. sIMoNDs-

/
morToc's nith the British
ny FRANK H. SIMONDS-
N The French stake in the Wash
nhgton conference is Infinitely less
o ensiderable than that of any other
Sreat power. save only Italy. which
las. In reality. no stake whatsoever.
The French interest, moreover. is
concentrated not upon the question
Of the limitation of naval arma :
nent. but upon the problem of the
Pacific
What France would like Is plain
She would regard as a triumphant
outcome of the conferenc any form
Of agreement which would revive
the old special Insurance treaty
which bound the United States to
defend France against any new
German aggression. But even in
Paris is is clearly perceived that
he tripartite agreement is as dead
rs the pragmatic sanction.
VIII Refer Army Problem.
As a consequence France will
raise the question only If she j.
pressed to accept other views than
her own as to the limitation of her
and forces And since she is
-eady with this answer. and neither
he United States nor Great Britain
5 prepared with any adequate
- answer. il is easy to forecast that
The problem of land forces will
- referred to some convenient
committee authorized to make an
exhaustive examination and report
some time in the remote and ir-
relevant future.
20? Patiently she will aim at one
% preserve and expand American
friendship. Her stake in the Pa
.ific bis geographically and statis-
:icaIly impressive but sentiment
ally little. So far as France is
thinking in terms of expansion,
colonial enterprise and economic
development. she is thinking of
Africa. Not even the possibility
81 losing her India as a result of
japanese hostility engendered by
French support of American pro-
9osals has weight at the moment
Seeks U. =. Friendship.
In a word France comes to the
conference with free hands and
with a profound desire to make the
best of an obvious opportunity to
win American friendship by asso-
l-iating herself with American pur-
soses. Having no war fleet she
Byffl welcome any decision which
ends to reduce the sea power of
ne other great nations. Not re-
arding her Pacific possessions as
tai. she will have no such en-
rrassments as the British. who
e bound to think In a measure as
Asiatic power.
0ne possible line Of French policy
st awaken apprehension. BRAND
mes to Washington fresh from
lattIe in the Chamber. which has
n far less decisive than he hoped
1t would be OF infinite advan-
to him IL he could carry back
him the credit of having
ed a brilliant and profita BILE
in Washington. The obvious
urged by some Paris journals,
kt of Honest Broker bring
ito harmony conflicting Amer
ana Japanese luIeTcslS Al
assuming that BRAND could
fully play such a role. his
] fortunes at home would
lnced.
uId Risk Giving Onense.
is clear that attempting to
IN a role would be running
Z. not aJne of offending
ut also the United States.
fuld inevitably be the duty
|rbitrat4 to demand con-
pm both sides. This danger
foh n in many quar-
Paris d warnings r, h have We
the S6hments of many
Journals. which agree that
totally ignorant of Amer
Is apd under very great
pn to endeavor to restore
en domestic situation by a
|oreign achievement
whole Il seems likely tina.
i'll avoid this danger. He
med TO defend French
blishment. he comes pre-
Justify the policy which
heres to In the matter of
army. But he does not
rmand an alliance. he does
with any hope that such
can be brought about
III go into the question
hands are forced by any
or Angio-American in
bpon reduction of land
aek American Policy.
imum of French eXpecta-
Improvement in Franco
slations. some little les
e American criticism OF
+ in Europe and toward
rocured by a whole
ipionship of American
conference. Apart
fstion of the personal
unes of NJ. BRAND.
real reason for seek
conspicuous part
Id be any real diver
N between the Brit
can Representatives
say 7 do not think
n either shed tears
committing them
nerican side OF the
nglo French reia-
n cordial. All over
and British pol
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