Evening star., 1922-01-15
MOST CRITICAL HOUR
FOR FRANCE AT HAND
Short-sighted Craftsmanship Blamed for
Crisis Involving Europe's Gen.
eral Advance.

fashlon tend to undermine the repara-
t1ons agreements prescribed by the
treaty of Versailles; in the slightest
| way hinder Frances retention of oc-
eupied sections of the Rhine. or which
would preclude eventual realization
of the militarists' greatest goal, oc-
cupation of the left bank of the
| Rhine.
The Poincare school of political
thought would grind Germany into
the dust, would declare her BANKRUPT,
would forego any relations with Rus
sia unless France receives guaran-
/ tees that all the francs of peasant
money poured into Russia in the form
Of czarist loans are repaid to the last
| sou.
Poincare, if expressed views are
| clung to. would maintain in Frarce
an army which would forever pre-
clude possibility of attack. He would
! burden the nation with increased
naval expenditures. He would openly
defy Great Britains influence in the
perpetuation of general schemes
looking toward the revival of Europe,
| If in that revival Germany is permit
| ted to regain her feet through the
| mitigation of imposed reparations
| burdens Poincare has waved the
sword ever since the war ended He
| waved it up to the moment of Bri-
! and's fall. He catered to the already
| infiamed viewpoint offhe populace of
France He has scored favor among
| the malcontents of the country.
He may have placed himself in an
! embarrassing position by virtue of
previous commitments. The eco
nomic and financial situation of Europe
! undoubtedly will force France even
tually to take a place beside other
allies in reconstruction processes.
I, Poincare or no Poincare. He may
have merely ratified the saber to OBJ
tain power. but this undoubtedly will
be his undoing when his people feel
the economic and financial pressure
| other allies undoubtedly will bring
upon France if she persists in her
| isolation or resists the onward march
of the allies toward general recon-
struction throughout Europe.
The allies it would appear. in view
of Supreme council decision to pro-
ceed with the Geneoa conference, are
going ahead in the face of any French
action. The tacit warning has been
sounded that they will ignore France
| in a showdown.
Will France refuse to enter the
Geneoa conference. there to discuss
ways and means whereby England,
Italy. France. Germany and Russia
may take the lead i'm revitalizing the
life of the continent? If France re-
| fuses to do so on the ground that the
soviet refuses to repay the Russian
debt to France. the cleavage will at
| once become marked and there is every
likelihood that other countries will go
about their business and effect finan-
cial and economic agreements which
will have the practical effect of
abandoning France to her own devices
and creating new alliances which will
in the final analysis react against
France. For France cannot begin to
| carry out her vaunted dreams of
dominating Europe through political
maneuvers if the other allies are CO.
! ordinated in going. constructive
| policy, one which is vitality essential
to those small nations which up To
the moment have turned to France
for comfort. financial and military.
x X
The Cannes conference at least ac-
complished much in the economic
conference agreement. but failed
insofar effecfipp
cisions on other of the great questions
! confronting Europe which were ex-
pected when BRAND. Lloyd George
and other premiers, went to the south,
of France.
Should Ponicare adopt the view
point of Lloyd George that there
should be general co o-operation: should
he bow to the decision and viewpoint
of other allies that the Germans rep
arations should be adjusted more in
line with common sense; should he
enter the Genoa conference. France,
A., insofar as sentiment and opinion i'm
other countries is concerned, yet may
be saved from an isolation -
| But should he pursue the jingoistic
| policies enunciated previous to his
elevation to the premiership, he may
! for time perpetuate tenure of Of
| fee, but he will bring political and
| economic damnation to his country.
| + X X
Europe's advance does not permit
| of middle course on the part Of
France. When the people of France
| realise that the best interests Of the
nation demand closest corporation in
the broad. sweeping plans advanced
by Lloyd George. Poincare may be
| forced to place his sword in a velvet,
| rattle proof scabbard. At that instant,
| the length to which French poll
| ticians would betray civilizations ad-
vance for the enhancement of per-
/ scnal political prestige will be thor
| oughly demonstrated and admitted by
| the world at large.
In any case, the position Of France
in future negotiations will be hazard
| ed. as undoubtedly events OF the past
| week have proven the difficulty Of
dealing with any government in
France as long as these governments
are mere puppets for an unenlight.
E! ened chamber. This chamber might
muddle the whole course Of agree
ments through unwise judgments.
1t is more to be expected that Eng