The Washington times., 1922-12-26

~.
many countries
is bound to be taken as an indica'
ton OF current European sentiment.
Senator Mccormick is not given to
issuing statements evolved out OF
prejudice without observation. In
any case he has no prejudice run
ming against France as France.
What he now says as to the facts
Of the European situation and as
to the views taken OF that situa.
ton by European economists and
financiers" may pc safely regarded
as an altogether realistic and re-
liable account OF the isolated posi-
ton in which France now finds II.
self.
To put It hluntly, Europe as Eu-
rope in mass IL against French
policy today. and the growing CT.
fort OF "A larger and larger part OF
the whole world IL to bring French
policy under some sort OF abate'
ment and control This truth
which may he dcduced from Sen.
ator McCormick's statemcnt-is out
rightly reported from Europ" Dy
other American observers. 1t Is
an open secret now among in
formed diplomatic persons that
even Belgium is separating itself
from certain aspects Of French
policy and is always willing to
join in efforts to make that policy
more moderate In many matters
connected with the question or
Preparations from Germany and CON
nected with the question OF military
pressure upon Germany.
Russia is hostile to France he
cause Russia regards France as the
backbone OF the opposition TO full
recognition of the existence OF the
Russian Soviet Republic among the
worlds governments. Germany is
hostile to France for reasons which
hardly need recounting. Italy pur-
sues its own course, and under Mus
solini is as willing to negotiate with
Lenin as with Poincare. The Turks
are bound to France by gratitude.
but are more bound to Russia by
fear. Britain for month after month
has been In effect reproaching
France for spelling the market for
British goods and for all other for
eign goods in Germany. And,
finally, the American representa-
tives, attached unofficiallv but per-
fectly clingingly to the reparations
commission at Paris. have been ex-
pressing that same point of view to
the French with just as much fervor
as Senator Borah himself could
show in expressing 1t to the men,
bers Of any international economic
conference.
The fact is that Senator Borah' 8
proposed International conference
would in practice be nothing but a
world meeting for saying to the
French in circumstances of great
publicity what virtually every i'm
portant nation in the world Is say
ing to them now by secret or indi-
rect avenues. A world storm is
gathering over the head of the
French Republic. and It Is possible
to make a certain reasonable guess
as to when 1t will break.
The United States at present has
an unresolved dispute-or, at any
rate, nunconcluded discussion
with Britain. 1t Is regarding the
debt from Britain to the United
States. 1t Is going to be resolved
and concluded presently. Britain is
|abundantly able to pay. The foreign
still held by Britain in
lands outside Britain are at Leaf ST
twice the amount or the debt owed by
Britain to us. Through the sale OF a
certain part of these investments
Britain can transfer the proceeds to
the United States Treasury little by
little without at all running itself.
Britain can and will pay. At that
moment-namely, at the moment
when the terms of payment are set
tled-a joint policy by Britain and
the United States toward the still
unpaying and unsettling countries of
Europe will become inevitable, and
the pressure upon France for a
change in French policy will really
vigorously begin.
One of two things then will hap.
pen. Either France will yield to
that pressure, or else Britain will
turn its back on Europe and leave
France to take It's own unai0eo
chances of dominating Europe or of
getting destroyed by It. Britain is
almost ready now to withdraw from
Europe. II will be perfectly ready
to do so when once IT'S affair with
the United States is concluded
"A fely. The result then will be for
the French: either moderation or else
final isolation and ruin. That is the
exact prospect, whether Senator
Borah's international economic con.
q - = II