The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-11

NO-%N~
At first the same objections are
made to the same arguments. But
to the great Frenchman who holds
his ground and sticks to his original
demands, an entirely different and
most capital proposal Is soon made
Great Britain. with her century-old
pride in her splendid isolation. the
United States too proud to fight,
separated from the rest of the world
by Washington's farewell address
and the Monroe Doctrine, offer
France a formal pledge of alliance
their immediate military guarantee
against any unprovoked aggression
on the part of Germany; an unprece-
dented and Immensely significant
proposal which will assure us In
peace the same unity of power which
enabled US to win the war
| NJ. Clemenceau. who asked moth
ing"-he will recall 1t with pride
before the Senate discriminatory
states the very great value he at
taches to this offer. But he ex-
presses at the same time his formal
desire not to give an immediate an
swer. He intends before so doing to
reflect and to take counsel. The
next two days. March is and 16, three
meetings are held at the ministry OF
war between NJ. Clemenceau, Pichon
Louoheur and myself. when verbally
and in three successive notes the va
rious respects of the problems are
analyzed and discussed. From tais
study two conclusions appear, botn
equally Illuminating, and for the mo-
ment at least naturally contradlc-
tory.
Guilty of Crime
The first is that French gov
eminent which, receiving such an
offer under such conditions, woulo
allow II to escape would be guilty
of crime. The second, that French
government satisfied with only TINS
and nothing more would be equally
guilty. A grave contradiction indeed
For. in the conversation of March -
Lloyd George and Mr.. wilson. haVs
clearly indicated that, they oilere0
the military guarantee IN lieu oi %
cupation and the independence OF .ns
left bank. 1t is to avoid the lateer
which they do not wish, that 'hey
propose the former to these wv
countries so Justly proud OF thefi
strength seems of equal, II not oil
rreater. value. They recognize as
iudisputable Frances right to the
guarantee demanded by her. Bu'
rejecting the method proposed by US
and because they reject it--they pro
nose another. The left bank OF the
Rhine to remain German, The ieIs
hank of the Rhine to be occupteu
neither by AN interaliied nor py
French force. In return. Great britaii'
and the United States to give Francs
their solemn pledge of immediate
military aid in case of danger
NJ Clemenceau.s mind is made up
on the evening of the 18th, ana nis
decision expressed in note nahueu
70 the heads of the allied govern
ments on the morning OF th@ i,a
A proposal is made to us, wA!ch SUP
stitutes one guarantee for another'
we refuse this Substitution, we
gratefully note. with the fuilest ap
probation of its value, the pieose
offered and desire to accept H. pu.
only on the express condition tha'
IL be supplemented by most of the
other guarantees demanded by Us
first of all. by occupation.
The note marks the beginning Oh
negotiations In which twice uay up
10 April 22 we kept up our efforts
Our object? To obtain the proffereo
guarantee but with the addition OF
occupation-and few other safe
guards which to the minds OF our
allies were to be replaced purely and
simply by their military guarantee.
In Complete Agreement
1t appears that Lloyd George and
Mr.. Wilson are now in complete
agreement against any occupation. on
the 26th the British prime minister
hands his colleagues a generoi note
on the peace. in which after insisting
on the danger of too drastic q peace
he says:
LAS France is naturally anxious
about a neighbor. who has, twice
within living memory, invaded and
devastated her land with surprising
rapidity. the British empire and the
United States undertake TO come to
the assistance of France with their
whole strength in the event OF Ger
many moving her troops across the
Rhine without the consent of the
council of the League of Nations
This guarantee to last until the
League of Nations has proved itself
to be an adequate security.
- Mr.. Wilson also In a note Of
April IL forcefully recalls the scope
and Importance of his proposals OF
March IA and 27, which were iden-
tical with those OF Lloyd George, and
he adds with great gravity:
1T will be recalled that these pro-
posals were made jointly with Lloyd
George, who made practically iden-
teal Droposals with regard to the