The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-17
Washington Sees No
Danger of War Between
Great Britain and France
ny DAVID LAwGENCE.
(CopyriSht by the Inteiligencer)

'wecn Great Britain and France gives
great concern here not because OF any
fear that the two countries will come
into actual physical conflict but because
the controversy may keep the European
mind agog over war and its implications
instead OF peace and its economic ocne-
ITS.
Americas decision to keep hands of
he SileSian quarrel cannot beGaken liz
rally. OF course President Harding
and Secretary Hughes do not want 10
mix in what might be for the moment
strictly European quarrel but American
Interest in what is going on is just as
true today as ii Was when Senator Knox
,eader Of the irreconcilabieS inserted In
The now famous paragraph tire Of his
peace resolutions = declaration that the
United States would view with grave
concern anything that threatened TO
upset the peace OF the world.
o. s. May MSdIAso
So long as the dispute over the pos
session OF Upper Silcsia is n territorial
squRbole between European nations and
gives no sign Of growing into 4 major
quarrel. America looks on an says
nothing. But the possibility that the
United States might bc asked TO
mediate or might even be urged 10
render her good Offices is beinS dis
"ussed as phase Of the situation that
would bring about change of attitude
AT orcc
The United States government ap-
pears hopeful that the French and Bri-
fish will get over their latest flare-up
Just as they have 80 many outburstS In
he past. Official Washington discloses
little talk Of = possible war between
France and Britain. as some Of the
French dispatches have limited in order
70 Impress England with the serious
effect Of Prime Minister Lloyd Georges
utteranCes. AT bottom. the belief here
s that aside from the conflicting in
'erests OF Franco and Germany in the
Silestan coal fields. domestic politics
IS playing a Tar greater part In Franco
and Britain than anything else, and
that when the usual parliamentary
rises are passed the European nations
will slowly but surely solve the Slssian
problem as they have many another
tangled controversy growing out OF the
European war.
The X4runeh Atusaon
Premier BRAND must face the French |
parliament this week Since the French
chamber last met, tho. Germans have
accepted the reparatiori proposals OF the
aliieS and the occupation OF the Ruhr
IN which the French military party
had set It's heart Is FOR the moment
retarded. What has premier BRAND 10
oHer? Only another German promise to
oay. The opposition in France to Sri-
and would have held lup that promise to
score and perhaps Premier BRAND
would have had difficulty holding his
majority in the French parliament But
Prime Minister Lloyd George has named
Premier BRAND another issue. He has
criticized France and said that he would
prefer that Germans troops put down
the uprising in Stlesia instead Of allied
troops He has hinted that the Polish
jusurrectionists are encouraged by the
French troops now in Silesia. Here is
as Issue around which all France can :
rally. Feeling against Germany can al
ways be employed as a parliamentary {,
mAneuYer. France don't want 10 give
Germany an opportunity to use troops
for anything. In q nutshell. Premier
BRAND will get handsome vote Of
confidence and retain yesterday trha nks
to the timely use or has made Of th0
George speech.
Meanwhile In England the Prime min
!Ster has mended his political fences
TOO. Knowing the softness Of feeling
Of the British laboritieS for Germany.
The British prime minister wins to his
side more and more OF the labor vote
BY his open opposition TO what the
British laborite terms French mIliitar-
Ism Domentice politics again comes in
70 prominence. AS for the United
States, her internal politics is no small
factor either. France cannot rely upon
anActive support from President Hard
ing who doesn't want 10 give the "ir-
reconciables" any further offence than
already given in the decision 10 partici-
pate in the allied councils The wealth.
lest and most powerful nation OF ALL
the United States-ls held at bay by
domestic considerations. This means
that Lloyd George feels free to go
ahead without fear OF the effects Sf
any France-Ame-tcan entente.
Discreet silence
AS for sympathy here officials here
maintain 4 discreet silence. Obviously
they want Germany not 70 lose too
much OF her resources and il they felt
that the loss OF the Silcsian coal fields
would so weaken German industry as y
interfere with her capacity for fullfill-
ment OF the promises she gave on repar-
alton last week. there would be no hest
tation about expressing AN opinion. But
IN the absence % definite disposition
OF territory. tn" major question dealing
with IN" Ntr-rt on Germany5S power to
pay repara tionS - still in the back
ground and gives America no opportun-
ity for IN" use OF moral suaSion. There
Is haze over the facts Of the quarrel
the Immediate c:t uses Of the rupture.
Did France encourage the polish tnsur-
gents? DID Germany tSng about up
rising through infammatory news art
IcleS? Does France want TO diSmember
Germany so that she will be econom!-
cally prostrated while France goes
ahead" All thes" questions arc being
asked here. And Secretary Hughes has
significantly called for ali tho docu-
ments. Thus far the American govern
ment merely seeks the facts ana eI-
presses no opinions.