Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-19
'0CCUPAT|ONA[
De BIT DEMAND
sT|RS FRANCE
ardieu Says u. S. Bill
Presented in Way That
Shocked" Them.
Refutes Talk of French
Militarism; Assures Of
Payment Of War Loans
BY ANDRE TAROIEU
Special Cable to The Great Falls Tribune


Copyright. 1922. by The Great Falls Tribune
Paris. March 1S.-To me it never
has seemed so difficult to talk to Amer
leans about France as it is today. Our
problems have become so confused and
embroiled on both sides that it is hard
to make clear ones meaning, however
clearly one tries to spin.
There are three questions around
which Misunderstanding exist, SO let
us try to understand each other. First.
there is the question of our debt. Sec
ond. comes the problem of the oc-
cupational debts. Third, arises our al
legged militarism.
Concerning our debts. you probably
have read Premier Poincare's categori-
cal statement confirming what /. my
self, repeatedly have cabled, that
France never has dreamed of default
America. We count upon American
friendship merely for reasonable terms
of payment No American will protest
such request.
Loucheur Is Like LaFollette
The unfortunate development was
the address of former Minister Lou
cheur. in which he said the exact OPP
posite of the above-our ambassador,
NJ. Jusserand. cabled that the effect of
this statement in the United States
was disastrous.
I. myself, deplore it. But. on the
other hand Americans have no right
to hold France responsible for NJ. Lou
cheur's declarations that more than
We would hold America responsible for
every thing that Senator LaFollette
says. Loucheur simply is deputy and
often has been mistaken. as. for in
stance. when he said three years ago
that Germany would pay 1S.0OO.OOO,-
GOO gold marks annually. Loucheur
a stupidity. Here it is re-
GREETED. Let Americans put their minds
to rest about it.
The question of American compen-
sation for the expenses of its army of
occupation is more delicate but it must
be discussed. Germany owes the United
States for occupational expenses by
virtue of the armistice provisions and
the German American peace treaty.
Nobody denies this What is the cause
Of the misunderstanding? Last week the
allied finance ministers were discussing
not Germany's debt. but the division of
the first billion marks cash paid by
Germany. The division of this money
raised many fine legal points. What
panied us was. that. without warning;
without even informing the American
embassy, your representative, Mr..
Royden. abruptly presented claim
which. taken Literally. would mean that
the United States suddenly had OBJ
jected to all of the agreements reached
among the allies for months past 1t is
n question. l repeat. of priority and
necessitates close study considering the
allure of the United States to ratify the
treaty of Versailles.
MiIitarism Defended
The form and time of Mr.. Boyden's
action shocked us far more than the
action itself. During the war | myself
far more serious difficult !
ties concerning the use of money bor-
rowed from America but an agreement
always was reached. 1t is certain that |
4 conciliatory spirit is needed on both |
sides. say. frankly, that / don't think |
It has been lacking on our side in the |
present instance.
AS to the alleged miltarism l can
only suggest: Come see for your |
selves With out colonies. we are a !
lation of one hundred million people and |
We do not desire that we shall be cut |
,ff from those colonies. That is the !,
whole extent of our naval militarism. /
We are n European country that has |
,een invaded twice in 80 years. We de- |
sire assurance that this will not happen |
again That is the extent of our land |
Our viewpoint upon these questions !
vas ill-expressed at Washington. 1t is
90 bad But you are too intelligent to
make us forever responsible for the :
,lunders of our delegates. In 1919. we !
Issented to entrust Il large part of our
ecurity to international agreements in
he League of Nations and defensive
reaties. These agreements having failed
o materializc, we have been forced to
all back on material guarantees, oc-
upation and military force. But even
low we are preparing to vote law
utting military service in half.
There is the truth, my friends. Con
ider it calmly. good humoredly.