Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-21
CANNES RESULTS CONSIDERED
MOST DEFINITE OBTAINED

through military power welded by
the victors acting in concert, and
the other that reconstruction must
come through business methods,
such as stimulation and aid to Eu-
ropean production as a whole, mini
MIXING the military element. For
reasons connected with her econom-
ic interests, France championed the
former theory and Britain the lat
ter. Within this conflict was 'anoth-
er--the age-long rivalry OF Great
Britain and France. France wanted
British support for her continental
policies and freedom to pursue them
unhampered, while granting British
predominance on the seas and in
colonial spheres Of influences. The
French demanded a written alliance
on this basis. The chief subjects at
the Cannes conference-reparations,
an Anglo-F'rench treaty and Eu-
ropean reconstruction consortium in.
volving the Genoa conference, and
recognition of the Soviets--were but
elements Of these two great con-
flicts.
On both matters Britain won a de-
cisive victory. Lloyd George first
Unanswered Italy and Belgium to
his side on the subject of recon
struction, and then demanded that
Premier BRAND accept his plan as
condition Of any British treaty.
But the treaty which he offered
later while meeting the chief French
argument--F'rance's fear of a new
German invasion--granted France
no British support for her CONT
mental policy, and because its pro-
visions were not reciprocal, placed
France in the position Of a protect
ed and hence second rate power.
M. BRAND had planned to make
this treaty only the beginning of
general alliance with Britain, and
held the submarine threat and the
Angora treaty for bargaining. But
Lloyd George suddenly appealed to
publicity by issuing his memoran-
dunn which aimed chiefly to con-
vince the United States and his own
electorate. BRAND, getting wind of
this, sought to forestall it by CIV
ing an interview to the newspapers,
but this proved inadequate to coun-
teract the powerful British docu-
ment, which really brought about
Brands downfall as premier.
Thus Lloyd George caused the
French government to be over
thrown after he had obtained what
he wanted, but before he had given
anything substantial in exchange.
The British thesis is now apparent
ly so strongly entrenched in public
opinion that the British plan goes
ahead in spite Of France, and with
the support of nearly the whole Of
Europe and perhaps Of the United
States.
The consortium committee meets
next week and the Genoa conference
will begin March s. France has
agreed in principle to recognize the
soviets.a Great Britain thus fortified
in prestige does not feel obliged to
make further concessions to France.
Whatever future details are arranged
concerning reparations her general
thesis appears certain to be main
tanned. Germany will be assisted in
regaining her prosperity and the
reparations will be reduced to about
one-third Of the May schedule, but
so arranged that France will receive
most Of what is due her, Britain Civ
ing her share to France.
On the other hand, France, if she
proceeds harshly against Germany,
must act alone, which considering
her perilous financial situation would
almost certainly be disastrous. Pre-
mier Poincare retains the submarine
threat and the Angora treaty for
bargaining, but 1t is not likely that
the French can get from Britain all
that France demands: Secret nego-
tiations with Britain will continue for
weeks, but it now seems certain that
France must either accept minor
share of Britain's European plans or
become an isolated and secondary