Evening star., 1922-09-04

| industrial resources of Europe. These
power trusts dominate French pol
icy, control the cham ber and own the
Paris press.
Poincare is not unsympathetic to
them. He is a great corporation law
year, and for twenty years acted as
| the adviser of the trusts So while
malign influences prevail it is useless
| to look for a change of heart in
! France. Confident in her unchallenged
| military power, she will resist every
proposal that falls short of her eco
nomic and political domination of
Germany. She repudiates the repara
tions commission and the league of
nations.
League Is Menaced.
The Paris press threatens that
France viii withdraw from the league
! if Germany is admitted without con-
ditions of economic slavery. We
| await with anxiety the proceedings at
Geneva. England has officially de-
clared for the admission of Germany.
With France opposed. the future of
the league is imperilled if the ques-
tion is raised and rupture follows.
Germany has flown a kite of sug-
Gcstion that she is willing to accept
financial control of her affairs by a
disinterested power. indica ting the
United States. 1t is not likely that
America would undertake the biggest
liquidation of bankruptcy in history.
but every day makes 1t clearer that
Europe cannot escape from the morass
! in which she is engulfed without the
moral well as the material assist
ance of the United States.
Americas withdrawal from Euro
pean affairs would be the greatest
disaster in the history of civilization.
Is Europe worth saving? That ques-
! tion affects America today no less
| than it did in April, 1917. What Eu-
rope needs is The exercise of a great
disintcrested influence standing for
rea asonable policies and equal justice
with pacific motives. There Is only
one such influence in the world, and
that is the United States.
In this connection the declaration
of Gov. Cox that America should par
ticipate in the discussion regarding
reparations has aroused extraordinary
interest. 1t is realized that he speaks
as a private individual, but the
declaration arouses the hope that
America may hold out a helping hand
to Europe before it is too late.
The need is most urgent as the
breach between France and England
widens. The latest development in
this breach is sinister. 1t is claimed
that the French conscript British
subjects into their army at Tunis.
This raises d grave issue at the grav-
est possible moment. 1t is inconceiv-
able that the French will persist in a
policy calculated to arouse bitter re-
sentiment in England. where conscrip-
tion is hated and where public opin-
ion is uneasy because of Frances
great African armies conscripted for
service in Europe.
Sooner or later the importation Of
black soldiers to the continent must
be faced. 1t is a challenge to the
white civilization of Europe. We did
not fight the great war to arm Africa
againSt Europe. 1t is monstrous that
four years after the war black SOL
diers still are entrenched in the heart
of Europe.
spect to France cannot be maintained.
Europe will not have African armies
as q permanent institution on her
soil. When it once is realized that
French Imperialism rests on African
levies the vital issue. to the future
of Europe will be joined. The league
of nations cannot continue to pretend
to ignore this enormous fact. The
certainty that it will be raised ex-
plains French coldness toward the
league. If militarism prevails. the
league dies. Conscripting African
armies for service in Europe is an in
suit to an institution designed to es-
tablish peace and non-military CO.
operation between the powers. If
the league cannot send the black SOL
and surrenders to French arms.
That is the issue behind all of the
controversies of the moment. Which
is to dominate Europe-the league or
French militarism? Which does Amer
ica want? 1t has the decision in its
hand.
Copyright, 1927