Evening star., 1922-11-23

in the United States Senate who fear
America may be Influenced by what
NJ. Clemenceau writes or says.
The United States government,
meaning President Harding and Sec
retary Hughes. who are charged with
the responsibility Of foreign policy,
uatton. To reply to NJ. Clemenceau
means taking Official cOgnizance of
what he says and reviving a con-
troyersy which the administration
here 10 particularly anxious to avoid.
especially since the press Of domestic
questions is making antagonisms and
factions enough.
Foreign Questions Raised.
But NJ. Clemenceau's utterances and
writings will not go unanswered. He
has his defenders, as well as op-
ponents. in this country, and what
ever may be the final judgment OF the
american people as. to the concrete
questions raised by the former French
premier. he has already accomplished
one ob1ect-he has stirred up foreign
questions anew and focused attention
on them. There have been signs that
european matters would be forced to
the front anyhow by that group of
International co-operationiSts in re-
publican and democratic parties who
believe the plight of Europe is in
separately interviewer in the pros
perity OF America and the future Of
our export trade, particularly agricul-
tural products
Hints have been coming from the
White House that the calling of an
economic conference Of all the prin-
cipal powers was under consideration.
The only thing that has been holding
such a step back has been the fear
that economic and political questions
would become hopelessly entangled.
America refused to enter the Genoa
conference for that reason and has
economic conference would meet the
approval of this government
M. Ciemenceau's visit comes at a
tlme when whatever is done on the
subject OF an international confer
ence Will have to take into account
the existing internal disputes in
american politics on foreign rela-
tions. The former French remier is
making no new argument. Incidental
~. but ne Is making more effective
use or old arguments than any
Frenchman has made.
Looking back over the years since
.ne @ armistice, every French spokes-
assurances against German in
vasion and has given that as the
main reason why France, burdened
with debt, cannot give up such mill
tary expenditure as she deemed
necessary for national safety. The
United States government ami other
nations have insisted that before
there can be any readjustment of
war debts disarmament was neces
sary TO permit the balancing of
budgets. VI
Seeks Triple Alliance.
france has opposed disarmament
and NJ. Clemenceau, like Premier
BRAND, who came to Washington a
year ago, asks for a triple alliance
between United States, Great Britain
and France as a guarantee against
German invasion. M. BRAND smoke
In French, and while his speeches
were carefully translated and widely
pupllshed they were made more as
a matter OF explanation of French
pollcy with respect to land dis
afldnent than as a direct appeal for
tude. "'''-
NJ; Clemenceau is deliberately an
peallng for a change in American
policy. 1t might be thought that he
wants American entrance into the
league OF nations: He didn't favor
the league in the first place. and only
agreed to it on President Wilson's as
sertion that America would not ioin
any alliance which is not an aJlianca
OF all nations. M. Clemenceau asked
President Wilson to submit the triple
aeienslve treaty as a matter of good
faith, because he, then the French
premier. hoped the Congress would
differ with Mr. Wilson. The truth
Is, the followers of Mr.. Wilson were
never enthusiastic about the trinJe
alliance. but M Clemenceau has seen
america under the presidency Of
ruts,a lesaoen1 a,,,.Han Harding joining a quad
fense of the Pacific. and he cannot
understand why the United States
Will not do a similar thing in Europe
where her interests materially. at any
rate, are just now even larger than
in the far east
Bitter Debates Expected.
The changes in American policy
have been difficult to understand
abroad. but NJ Clemenceau has de-
argue the cause Of France in the
broad sense. While it Is true he has
severe critics in France who difrer
with him as to the wisdom of many
of his acts of administration, there
is absolutely no doubt that on the
matter of a defensive treaty to pro-
tect France against German inva-
sion he has the united support of all
elements in the French government
and the enthusiastic backing of the
French people.
In fact, he could ride into office to-
morrow, even at his advanced age, il
he could return to France with as
surances of American participation In
q triple defensive pact for the defense
of the French border. He is unlikely
to get it.
Copyright. 1927