Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-04
FRENCH PRESS
GIVES BRAND
Big Send OFF
Premier on Way to Cannes
Conference of the Su-
preme Council
RELATIONS STRAINED
England Opposed to Alliance With
France Is View in London-French
to Maintain Concessions Claims.

/ Paris, Jan. 4.-Premier Aristide
/ BRAND has gone to Cannes for the
most critical international conference
since he assumed office early in 1921.
Upon his meeting with Lloyd George
and the allied premers depends not
only the fate of his own government,
but that of the Anglo French entente,
with all the far-reaching effect upon
European policies that for the next
decade will result from the supreme
councils decisions.
BRAND has left with the French
demands still ringing in his ears that
he shall not yield on any of his gov
ernmcnt'S reparations claims. He
has left behind him, as well, con-
siderable disQuictude over the fact
that Finance Minister Doumer, who
signed the August agreement under
which France was deprived of a share
Of the first 1,000,00O,000 marks from
Germany, will collaboratc with the
premier.
But although the press is pessi-
mstic it is loudly cheering-much
like the spectators at football game
for the French team to "hold 'em "
in the ardent hope that Lloyd George
vii lnot be able to push the ball too
far into French territory And if
BRAND fails to check Lloyd Georges
rush, he will certainly be sent out of
the game.
The Franco British entente was
never more strained than it is today
on the methods to be adopted TO re-
lieve econmoic condition of Central
Europe and Russia. Now it is sub
jected to the additional strain of the
misunderstanding Of submarines and
the recent quarrel has produced the
first possible atmosphere in which to
begin conference.
Frances share in the mutual con-
cessions which appear inevitable if
an agreement is to be reached, prob
ably will arouse the bitterest resent
mcnt throughout the nation against
the statesmen conscnting to anv re-
cession from Frances demands.
Not only the French statesmen are
hopeless, however. Raymond Poincare,
writing in the Matin. "hopes that
memory of the French-loving Edward
the 1th, who loved Cannes so well,
will dominate the conference" B1
Bainrille. writing in La Liber&,
warns the English to "beware-an-
other time we might answer that your
proffcrcd alliance comes too late and
is too costly"
London, Jan. 3.-Prcmier Brands
expressed desire that before the su
preme council settles the other mo-
mcntous problems at the Cannes con-
ference hard and fast alliance be-
tween Great Britain and France he
contracted, meets with vigorous and
emphatic answer from semi-officiaJ
quarters in London.
Great Britain wants no alliance
with France it is declared "and is
absolutely opposed to the movement
aiming at the conclusion of such an
alliance
1t IS pointed out that present en-
tcntc--if France will abide BY the
understanding of more than a decade
durat!on-is sufficient for French
needs.
But before BRAND seeks an even
closer relationship with Great Brit
am ne must explain first the recent
acts which have tended to make
+ rance the isolated power in European
affairs, it is held.
If, in his announcement made inst
before he loft fnr Cann.e ~ C
premier means that he intends to put
the proposition for such an alliance up
to Lloyd George, he must, it is de-
c'ared, realize that the recent French
policy, both in regard to Germany and
the disarmament movement, has made
written alliance even more remote
possibility than ever before.