Evening star., 1921-11-27
FRENCH ARMY STAND
MENACE TO.CONCORD
flinders Closer Cooperation With Great
: Britain-Briand May Be Compelled
to Break With Militarists.

the tremendous overhead government
expense. due in large measure to
maintenance of large armies and
navfes. the BRAND statement has
London. In fact, Lord Curzon. the
foreign minister, has warned France
that she has the privilege Of doing
as she pleases. but she also may have
the privilege of determining her own
destinies. without the assistance OF
| ton Is bluntly put. and even though
it accomplish nothing 1t is true key
to British official thought.
Furthermore. the BRAND statement
comes at a moment when there is
much heated discussion of the Franco
Kemalist agreement in the near east.
| the British charging that the French
have abandoned their allies to satisfy
particularly nationalistic interests.
Only the quick return of BRAND to
cussion Of the eFranco-Kemalist agree
ment between the two foreign offices.
and should the French insist on their
rights and still cling to policy
which England considers against her
desires in regard to disarmament the
since the Paris conference will be
wider.
Furthermore. the British and Ital-
ians are much concerned at the mo-
ment over possible French action In
case Germany defaults. her repara-
tion payments. There Is strong
tions payments must be met by Ger
many at stipulated times whether or
no. Sanctions involving the use OF
large military forces in further oc-
cupation of Rhineland regions have
been threatened. In fact. only little
struck forward without consulting
the British. only to withdraw under
pressure from London. The members
of the reparations commission are as
a unit in their demands that Germany
pay the January and February in
stallments. That in January calls for
500. 100000 gold marks. while the ex-
port payments fall on February 15.
also involving q prodigious sum. The
question Of a moratorium for Ger
many during a period Of years subse-
quent to these dates has been sug-
gested to save Germany from bank
ruptcy and is said to have the back
ing of all nations represented on the
rcparations commission except the
French.
If this course is decided and should
France demur. will the French use
their armies to force collection in
face of the opinion of other nations?
This is. question that has been
ralSeO IN foreign Capitals.
4 + +
1t also is pointed out that the MAIN
tenance of large armies by France,
though in a measure justified by fears
of future German aggression, is nee
essary II France maintains the po-
litical dominance she has builded up
since the war. 1t is pointed out that
offensive and defensive agreements
between France and Poland demand
that the French be ever ready to
back Polish interests in the east, this
menace being largely Russian. But
Frances interests lie to the south
ward, in Rumania, as well as in Jugo-
slavia, and understanding of often
sive and defensive character which
have been made to further French
political influence throughout the
quick agreement to curtailment of
land forces. Eastern Europe and the
Balkans today, as always, have been
potential seats of warfare, and II
there are agreements existing be-
tween the smaller powers and France.
then the latter always must be in po-
sition to keep her written and spoken
word, or else her influence would SUI
fer decided setbacks in the very re-
gions which France counts so much
upon to furnish diversion in case enc
mics from the east ever menace her
These agreements have been costly
to France, and they will continue to
be in the future. Furthermore, they
may prove embarrassing. Even
though BRAND. the pacifist. may de-
sire to abide by all dictates looking
toward making future wars impos-
sible and make Frances policies CO.
incide with Americas. Premier
BRAND faces ingrained prejudices. in
spired desires and concerted demands
Of the French people that France be
protected Today he stands victim
of the militarist policies framed by
previous governments and milltar1st
agreements with smaller powers. How
to circumvent militaristic and i'm
perialist Vaccinations at home is his
problem. But circumvent them he
must If Frances policy is hewn to
the line of practicality in easing the
world of it's burdens of debt occa-
stoned by war and preparation for
war.