Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-21
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 81, 1891.
rms Perturbation on FRANCE.

1ut rIRrt RHArioN OF FRANCE.
while u In announced that France |
has informally accepted the naval re-
duvtlun plan proposed hy Secretary of |
state Hughes, u is not surprising the |
situation should arouse unusual inter.
est In that country. and that some
Indignation should be- apparent That
this indignation viii entirely subside
without ,aking the form OF further
opposition from French sources is not
certain. France has yet to be official
ls heard from.
Many persons ln this country were
much surprised. upon the sudden and
unexpected announcement by secre-
mry of State Hughes at the opening
OF thos .imimtion Of Arms Conference,
to nnd that France and Italy were
not taken into consideration In the
Far Eastern program. This sur
prise WAS more emphatic In reference
a. France, by reason of the long ex-
ls,owvo uf friendly relations and sin
core feelings of friendship between
The two countries. dating back 20 the
DAYS of the American Revolution and
continuing to this day wgh only a
few Incidental threats Of Interruption.
a seemed like ignoring an old friend
IN laHulnR invitations to social func-
iiou, ana there ~ no doubt French
public opinion inclined strongly 20
This conclusion.
u II difficult al this time 20 form
az intelligent estimate of what viii
b. the result Of these international
conferences, which, following close
upun the conclusion of the great war
that plunged Europe into a condition
uf most threatening uncertainty and
suFerinE, viii have such an import
ant hearinr upon al schemes. OF all
thc nations involved. of roconstruc-
tiun, rehabilitation. and the establish
mVnt uf government upon those as
surlns foundations OF the past That
uuf country must have commanding
lead ih al these manipulstions to-
wards the desired restoration is GER
tain as We, alone Of the entire group
Involved, have emerged with n
nanciRl and political status that gives
assurance uf continued exercise Of
hll The functions 81 a Frcat and power
ful government In a word. that our
country must take a leading part in
thc work and lend helping hand to
the others.
u would be most unfortunate for
the future 10 have anything arise that
would fracture the friendly feelings
which for ~ Ions have subsisted be-
tween France and the United States.
even those 90 sentimental nature.
=, was France, alone among the old
Powers of Europe. that came practi-
caly 10 our aid at the birth Of our ma
tlun. ana which alone OF an those old
munarchial nations felt the deep in
iucncc ana the real spirit that aotu-
etcd our fathers In taking up arms for
the purpose OF establishing a govern
ment of the pepole. The American
Revolution. and its splendid success
had a powerful influence in bringing
about the French Revolution and its
mumenlous consequences.
No Il II hoped the apparent, al
though evidently unintonded. slight
upon France by not taking her into
cloee consideration in the naval pro-
gram viii not lead 10 any rupture OF
the feelings of comfy between ths
two nations France is now strug,
pllnp desperately. but hopefully. IL
the great work Of recovering from IA,
tavancs of war, which 30 sorely az.
nlrted her people. She has a gray,
concern for the establishment Of such
International relations az will impair
10 her people the assurance Of futur,
peace aud security they 80 ardently
desire And IN an tho coming con
serrnorp--an long as We are 60 refrain
ilom active participation in th'
League of Nations, which would q,
mufo than anything else TO protec
lhu interests of AN conccrned--it q
huped this rruat issue wlll not be ne
,iocted ur ignored.
~----ea