The New York herald., 1922-01-08

scrapped, and Germany. which was
| the greatest menace to France. was
| disarmed. Very foolishly we took
mandates over the German colonies in
Africa, which are now costing US
money we can i'll afford, but France
mas more colonial territory in north
Africa than she can manage and as
much, anyhow, as Clemenceau desired
France has not paid one penny of
her immense debts to us (f500, ,000. .000)
and we have not asked her to pay. On
the contrary when she went outside
the Versailles Treaty and made a sep
arate arrangement with Germany at
Wiesbaden and afterward a separate
peace with the Turks, we did not re-
proach her Indignantly for such COM
pacts, which we SHOULD have been JUS
| titled in resenting as not very scrupu-
lous in loyalty. The general body OF
opinion in England was all for French
priority in any payments from Ger
many. and was favorably disposed to
make a clean sweep of all French
debts to us.
| 1t is possible that France has some
legitimate grievances against us. 1t
is almost certain that on minor points
she may be justified in some irritation
against US. for no two peoples can
please each other every time. But
broadly and largely Britain has not
been guilty of any mean, ungentlo-
manly or disloyal act toward the
| French Government or people.
Germany the Obstacle.
| What is the cause Of the i'll feeling
| in France? 1t is, alas, very simple,
and utterly incurable unless the
French state Of mind changes funda-
mentally. 1t boils down to this:
| Whereas Great Britain for the sake
of her own trade and markets, which
are stricken with creeping paralysis.
recognizes the need Of German re-
covery Of prosperity. France, not so
dependent on her export trade, sup
plying her own food. and determined
to obtain German indemnities, does
not intend to let Germany become
strong again, because with such
strength will revive the old peril
across the frontiers. Those two angles
OF thought can never meet except in
conflict. TEey cut across each other
at every point, in every conversation.
in every negotiation. France sees
nothing but treachery in every British
proposal to Germany of a little relief,
| black treachery in British hopes that
| Upper Silesia would be adjudged
mainly to Germany, the most horrible
disloyalty in the British inclination
to modify the terms Of German repa-
rations.
l can understand the French sus-
picion and disgust because we seem to
be leaning always to the German side
OF the argument. shrinking from the
French seventies in dealing with the
enemy. How Is it, they ask naturally
enough, that you see such sweet rea-
sonableness in the German arguments
and German pleas for postponement
cerities and dishonesties?
The answer Is simple, but uncon-
vincing to any Frenchman. Because
in England there are approaching two
million people out of work because
British exports or manufactured
goods. upon which our life as a nation
depends, have declined by SO per cent:
because our ships are without cargoes
and the worlds carrying trades are
strangled; because England will per-
ish unless there is a revival Of pros
perity in Europe, which can never
happen if Germany is kept in a bank
rupt state, so reacting in decadence
| and disease upon all surrounding
countries.
There are other thoughts in the
minds of the British people not so
material-hope of idealists who believe
in the spirit of the Washington con-
ference, who see no chance for peace
in the world, no return to common
sense, unless there is a washout of
old enmities and forgiveness of sins
N a large, practical sense. But it Is
useless to talk to the French people
along those lines because their long
sufferings have made them cynical,
and traditionally they do not believe
in the idealism Of Great Britain. for
which in the past they have, 1 admit,
some justification.
What will be the outcome of this
difference between France and Eng
land? America, perhaps. will hold the
scales. 1t is only American influence
thrown on the side of disarmament
and the abolition Of submarine policy,
as well as the side of economic ar
rangements based upon international
Justice and sanity, that can stifle a
new peril to the peace of the world.
There will be no spirit of peace If
France insists on naval as well as
military power in order to enforce her
will on Europe regardless Of the gen.
eral ruin. Great Britain has no such
ambitions. For self-interest alone bids
her work for the recovery of all ma
tions. for good will among them. be-
cause otherwise her own prosperity
will never return. Neither America
nor Great Britain need be self-right-
eous because their material interests
are best served by help to others.
France must be converted to that way
of thought by those among her own
people, many Of them. who already
hold their faith.
Copyright. 1922. by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.
|