Evening star., 1922-01-15
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN,

ME most critical hour for
France since the revolution is
i at hand.
Upon decisions and events
| within the next fortnight may de-
pend Frances future.
| Either France takes the high road
leading to European reconstruction
| and general advance, or France turns
her back upon friendly allies who
| saved her from extinction in the world
war.
With France cooperating the whole
! old-world financial and economic fab
ric yet may be saved from the moths,
Jealousy, doubt and indecision.
With France pursuing policies ad-
mitted the world over to be inimical
to the best interests of people as
whole. France will isolate herself
from all nations.
For the sake Of wearing the bou-
tonniere of self-pride and nationalism
she also will wear patches of retro
gression.
] But, though the tides of ambition
run high in France, though France
clings to antiquated pre-war ideas of
| international cooperation. though she
| insists On fulfillment Of ambitious
dreams of political dominion, fading
! in comparison the Germans Hire
puted mittle- European schemes, there
| Is every reason to believe that France.
! whose heart is as sound as her states
men are unwise, finally will swing to
proper pathways. and the republic
| will advance steadily, comparatively
and gloriously to new destinies, even
| though they do not embrace strictly
| nationalistic panaceas.
X X +
Not since the time of the LouiseS
has France been so damned by short
sighted statesmen. Not since the time
of the revolution has the French in
ternal situation called for firmness.
clear vision. fortitude and patience.
Yet in the march of events since the
victimized by groups of politicians
| constantly whetting their knives to
,, the disinterest of opposition groups.
i These have misled the French people
| for the perpetuation of self-interest.
Ever have political courses been pred
! icated upon expediency. Far-sight-
edness has been lacking. French po-
litical thought. and as a consequence.
! national viewpoint, has been out of
! time with steady strides other nations
| have taken from the darkness of
wartime chaos to the daylight of
economic, financial and social under
standing. Other nations of Europe,
handicapped as they have been, have
| been struggling for betterment, while
French statesmen have been content
to founder and upon the strength of
Frances sufferings in the war mold
thought at home and abroad to gain
| their own ends.
Clemenceau's adoption of nationa-
listic, militaristic policies in the
i Paris peace conference at time
| when the world was crying for a new
/ deal in International relationship
started the ball rolling. The French
! people were led to believe such poll
| cies were what France most needed
! Under Legyues and under BRAND
French governmental policy has not
I departed for from the Clemenceau
pronunciamentoes. The French cham
! ber never has permitted governments
| to long pursue policies more in ac-
cord with such general schemes of
| advancement as have been ad-
| vanced by other nations. The cham
{ ber today might be said to be a war
time body in it's character. 1t thinks
] of wars. possibilities of wars and ac-
| tually predicates it's actions on the
expressed certainty that future wars
| are to be directed against France.
| Every issue, every policy tending in
| anywise to run counter current of
| prevailing war psychology of the
chamber is bitterly assailed.
| X X X
! AS long as the chamber is so short
| sighted, as long as it's political cur
| rents and judgments are inspired by
| self-seeking, ambitious politicians
who are not so much concerned over
issues save as they be evolved to their
own personal glorification; so long as
it be impossible for the present cham
Der to gain adequate perspective of
Frances true position in world af-
| fairs and the necessity of France
marching in hearty unison against
forces that today are undermining
old world civilization, then no future
royernment of France can expect to
remain secure for any period. And,
unless one does, Frances internal as
/ we'll as foreign policy must continue
to stir international animus and dis
content.
| Most certainly will Frances future
in general reconstruction processes
be of negligible character. AS her
efforts along these lines are negligi-
| BILE, SO may be measured her influence
In world councils during the decades
which are really to shape the future
| of the whole continent. Frances sun
will be dimmed by new constella-
! tion In which her one-time allies pre-
dominate and one in which former
i enemies will have voice as respected
as that Of Paris.
Whatever the reasons for the res
iRnation of Premier BRAND during
the past week, personal pique or fear
| of danger Of overthrow, the fact re-
mains that this resignation placed
| France at the crossroads. Advance"