Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-04
us. INTERVENTION IN EUROPE
WOULD CHECK French PLAN TO
CRUSH GERMANY Gardiner
American Guidance in Administering to Bank
rupt Nation Needed to Prevent Domination of
Continent by Imperialistic French; Black Arm
les Under Tricolor Must Get Out of Europe.

that falls short of her economic ard
political domination of Germany. She
repudiates the re%parations commission
and the League of Nations.
The Paris press threatens that
France will 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 administration of Ger
many. With France opposed, the flu
ture of the league is imperiled if The
question is raised and rupture follows.
Germany has flown a kite of sug-
|gestion that she is willing TO accept
financial control of her affairs by a
disinterested power, indicating the
United States. 1t is not likely that
America would undertake the biggest
liquidation of bankruptcy in history,
but every day makes it clearer that
Europe oannot escape from The morass
in which she is engulfed without the
moral as well as the material assist
ance of the United States.
American withdrawal from Euro
pean affairs would be the greatest dis
| aster in the history of civilization
Europe worth saving? That question
affects America today no less thar ii
did in April, 1917. What Europe needs
is the exercise of a great disinterested
| influence standing for reasonable pol
icies and equal justice with pacific mo
! tives. There is only one such influ'
ence in the world and that is the
United States.
In this connection, the declaration
of Governor Cox that America should
participate in the discussion regard
ing reparations has aroused extraordl'
nary interest. 1t is realized that h'
speaks as a particular individual, bu'
the indication brings the hope thai
America may hold a helping hand tt
Europe before il is too late.
EnqIish-F rench Break
The need is most urgent, as thu
breach between France and England
widens. The late developments in this
breach are sinister. 1t is claimed tina
the French conscript British subjects
into their armies at Tunis. This raise!
a great issue at the gravest possible
moment. 1t is inc~onceivable that thu
French will persist in a policy calcu
lated to arouse bitter resentment il
| England, where consumption is hatet
and where public opinion is uneasy be
cause of Frances great African
armies conscripted for service IL
Europe.
Sooner or later. the importation o
black soldiers to the continent mus
be faced. 1t is a challenge to the Whit
civilization of Europe. We did no
fight the great war TO arm Atrlc'
against Europe. 1t is mOnstruous tina
four years after the wal black soldier
still are in the heart of Europe.
Silence on the subject out of re
spect to France cannot be maintained
Europe will not have African armie
as a permanent institution on her sol
When it once is realized that Frencl
imperialism rests on African levies
the issue to the future of Europe vii
be joined.
The League of Nations cannot con
tinue TO pretend to ignore this enor
nous fact. The certainty that 1t WI
he raised explains French coldnes
toward the league. If militarlsm pre-
walls. the league dies. Conscriptin
African armies for service in Europ
ia an insult to an institution designe
to establish peace and non-mllltary CO
operation between the powers. If tn
league cannot send the black soldler
back to Africa, it becomes a Jest an
%surrenders to French arms. That
the issue behind all of the controvei
sizes OF the moment. Which is to dom
mate Europe. the league or Frenc
militarism? Which does Amerlc
want? 1t has the decision IN 1t
hand.