Evening star., 1922-01-01
FRANCE IS FIGHTING
TO SAVE PRESTIGE
Lack of Adequate Army and Navy Would
Undermine Domination of Smaller
European Countries.

With France will be aligned Po-
land. Belgium. Rumania. Jugoslavia.
possibly Czechoslovakia and. with the
Grecian situation in a state Of f1ux
might align her upon her side.
Great Britain will be the leader in
another group. ably and Staunchly
backed by the Italians, who .ever
ha4e been suspicious of French in
trigue in Jugoslavia and the Balkans.
Italy ever is on the watch. alert to
fruStrate further French endeavors
to dominate the Mediterranean. With
England and Italy undoubtedly will
be Germany and such countries as
may have professed sympathy with
Germany and her attempts to re-
habilitate herself. England already
has made overtures to Russia in a
trade way and it would not be pass
ing strange to see England and Ger
many together influence Russia to
join with them.
X *s.
Such situation is not to be desired.
1t ia one that not one of the nations in
Europe today hopes to see. with the ex-
ception. possibly. of Germany, who
would profit by the split in the allied
consolidated front. 1t would bring forth
tremendous rivalry, not only CONNER
cially. but from military and naval
standpoint unless checked through some
instrumentality. and the only remaining
channel would be the league of nations
in case the Washington conference does
not succeed in bringing about proper ad-
iustments along these lines But in the
councils of the league of nations the in
tiuences of the two blocs would be
brought to bear one against the other
with the rema ming votes about equally
divided among other nations on great
international questions.
T},If
on. France resents the manner i'll which
she has been dictated to. but more
deeply she feels the failure of England
to renew pledges of defense in case of
unwarranted attack upon France. Eng
land. OH the other hand. has very def
mite ideas as to European reconstruction
and the treatment Of Germany, all of
which are radically at variance with
those proposed by France. England
naturally is irritated at any policy
which looks only to the perpetuat:on of
discordant influences as against the
sommon veal.
II may be expected that the final test
will come and be settled upon the ques
ton of finances France without the GER
man repara tons in toto is dependent
upon tae good graces of other nations to
wea ther the tremendous financial storms
ahead of her. If she insists upon a
larger navy and maintenance of the
greatest army on the continent. then
there is sure to he accounting with
Great Britain, who has loaned France
tens of millions of pounds during the
past six years England will not consent
% see France forgo settlement. even
deferment of interest. if these vast sums
are directed toward the upbuilding of
French military and naval power which
England may regard as being directed
at her
But as a matter of fact France is
unable to do much in either direction
at the moment. The financial state
ment drawn up for the information
of the French senate but recently by
Senator Cheron shows that on Janu-
ary. 1880. the French state debt would
be 425.000, 100000 francs and at D per
cent there would be needed over
21 900. 100000 to meet interest. This
year the total revenue of the country
was only 23.000.0 100000. Before the
war the French debt was 27.1O4OOO.-
900 francs while the debt now is
32S, 900. .oOO. 900 In the argument in
the Senate the debt. it was declared.
should not be estimated at more than
ESQ 900. 100000. as none of the allies
would insist upon payment or obllga-
tions at the present rate of exchange.
But suppose England insisted on
settlement France either could not
or would not nay at the moment.
!; ); x
Cnuuestionably Premier BRAND and
other French statesmen will go far
toward reaching an adjustment of the
present i'll feeling. France. by in
sistence on her submarine ratio, can
at least save her face with smaller
nations politically aligned. and
through concessions in some OF the
other European questions particu-
larly interesting to the British. may
vet ward off breach and insure
further working agreements between
France and England, but in the face
of developments this course will be
necessary. for Britain is thoroughly
aroused over the submarine menace
which she sees as direct blow at
Rrit sh sea power.
But in all the storm clouds may be
seen the smiling face of BRAND. for
though he may antagoniZe abroad, he
is perpetuating himself and his
tenure against the blood and thunder
militaristic policies advanced by
Poincare, who aspires to his toga as
premier. BRAND is playing safe and
when the storm clouds blow over. as
they will. French internal situations
and politics. which embrace smaller
countries. of Europe, will be seen as
the guiding motive in the present
stand of the French government.