New-York tribune., 1921-11-22
Brands Stand
Blow to Britain.
Sinlonds View
Sees Death of London Hope
That u. S. Would Direct
Campaign to Compel Cut
in Frances Land Forces
Charges OpenP Propaganda
Prophesies Conference Will
Permanently Table Mill
tary Issue in Committee
BY Frank H. Simonds


larger sense tho speech Of NJ. BRAND
to-day was an isolated episode. The
conference had already tacitly resolved
to avoid the question Of land arma-
ments as a practical problem. 1t was
not to save but to justify the army
OF France, assailed by hostile
propaganda in the conference at Wash
ington, that the French Prime
Minister made what must be regarded
IS the chief oratorical effort Of the
present gathering.
Long ago the American representa-
tives at the peace conference recog-
nized the fact that only one action
would warrant them in recommending
or urging reduction in the French
army. That action was the ratification
by the United States Senate of the
treaty of insurance which President
Wilson gave to M. Clemenceau at
Paris, and at all times and under all
circumstances Mr.. Hughes and his as
sociates perceived that such was i'm
possible; therefore the question of
land ornaments WAS academic.
Direct Answer to Propagandists
The purpose of NJ. Brands address
then was twofold. He Appeared to the
American public to understand the
condition of France, the circumstances
in which the war had left her. the
perils which she saw visibly and dis
turbingly. In this respect the speech
was an answer to all that stream Of
propaganda, insinuation and denuncia-
tion, which from a thousand sources
mas flowed. steadily and uninterrupted
ly since the Paris conference. Spe-
clfically, it was an answer, and a direct
answer, to those attacks which Fl. q.
Wells and half dozen other British
journalists have openly or covertly
launched at French policy since the
washington conference began.
In the largest possible sense. M.
brand appealed to the United States
to see French conditions as French
men see them, to see in the French
army not an instrument of aggression.
noS weapon OF chauvinisn, but one
more Of the burdens imposed upon
France by proximity to Germany
whlch twice within fifty years had car
RED fire and sword into the fairest
was to mako this speech that M
BRAND came to the United States. He
staked his political present and his DO
iltlcal future upon this single effort
to carry to the United States q full
ana precise statement of French views
and French conditions.
Inc second purpose Of the BRAND
speech was unmistakably to supply to
ms own countrymen at home and to
the unfriendly Chamber of Deputies.
which ne must face a few days hence.
q Just1fication for his coming here and
he has held office.
For anyone who has read the COM
ments of the British and French iour-
nallsts who have come here for the
Washington conference it has been un-
mlstakable that Anglo-French relations
at thls moment are worse than at any
time since July, 1914. and, indeed, since
the signing Of the Anglo-French agree
ment OF 1904, which made the entente
cordiale possible and led ultimately
to the defeat Of Germany.
British Animosity Charged
Openly and by indirection there has
been carried on here from the first
days OF the conference a campaign on
the part of certain British journalists
to rouse American prejudice and hos
tlllty to the French military establish
ment The hope, only expressed by
some British journalists in and out Of
print. has been that the United States
would not only share it, but actually
open campaign to reduce the French
army. The reason, of course, has been
that French policy, with respect to
Germany, insists on the maintenance
Of French security at the risk of the
diminution of British trade. But
naturally this reason has not been thus
crudely expressed by any British Jour
nalist, novelist or moralist. British
journalists, like British statesmen, do
not quarrel with a rival. They only
demonstrate with sinner after in
dorsing virtue itself. Thus to disagree
with them is to encourage vice. The
whole method is there.
AS campaign to enlist official Amer.
lean sur~~rt for ali attack upon the
French army the British press opera
ton has failed. Since the United
States and Great Britain were not pre-
pared to insure France the representa-
tiyes Of Great Britain and the United
States in the conference found them
selves unable to persuade France to
disarm, and unwilling to precipitate
the debate which must have followed
such course.
In a larger sense, however. the Brit
ish offensive against the French mill
tary establishment has been by no
means unsuccessful. We shall find
when the conference has adjourned
we may find even before that time
certain elements in the American pub
lice opinion which take their color
from the so-called Liberal, or Man
chester, school in Great Britain eagerly
agitating against the French army. IT
is difficult, however. to believe that the
speech of M. BRAND, coupled with the
visit Of Marshal Foch, will not succeed
in doing much to meet this offensive
To these attacks upon France, based
upon the highest of humanitarian con-
siderations and inspired by the most
practical of all material considerations,
M. BRAND devoted his real attention.
His assertion that Germany is ready
to try it again will be challenged. His
declaration that tho old crowd are
still in the saddle will awaken oppos-
ing voices. But the singe unanswer.
able argument is found in the fact that
neither the United States nor Great
Britain is prepared to guarantee the
slightest bit of assistance to France
providing French calculation is correct
and Germany remains unregenerate.
No Verdict on Land Disarminx
There are three strong naval power,
IN the world. They are here in Wash.
iingt.on. When they agree their policy
nlnds the world. But Germany Is moi
mere. Russia is not here. No guaran.
ties can be given or taken. Therefore
with the close Of NJ. Brands sueech
the question of land ornaments fade,
nrst into committee and then into thai
region to be occupied by the perna.
nently unfinished business of the