The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-11
S ih 51zE5 N((1HAM HAS IT,

| ment of justice, the same treaty
which liberated these peoples caused
the message of freedom to shine
forth respondent throughout Europe.
Americans are. TOO proud of Their
own history not to understand that
we are proud of this
But there is not only sentiment;
there Is the fact. There is not only
the ideal: there is security. | have
frequently recalled the anxious his
tory of Europe and of France from
1871 to 1914. l showed the German
tentacles extending from the North
sea to the Mediterranean, all over
central Europe, and the Mitteleuropa
menace barring the continent from
Antwerp to Bagdad. Today Germany,
always docile to the teachings of
pan Germans, is seeking new for
mula on the Russian side for her as
yet unrealized ambitions, which re-
main none the less the same. Against
this peril the map furnishes no other
guarantee save those allowed for by
the treaty. The independence, the
security OF Poland of Bohemia of
the little entente have become fac
tors in the independence and the
safety of France, of Belgium Of Italy.
And one cannot imagine that French
Belgian and Italian Independence and
security can be a matter of indiffer-
ence to Great Britain and the United
States, unless we assume that these
two countries went raving mad in
1914 and in 1917, respectively, and al
though people have said many things
they have not yet said that.
Statute No Caprice
Thpre a tharafnra pothjpo N, n ~
natural than the Attachment of
France to the European statute es-
tablished in 1913. 1t is no caprice; it
is necessity. Still, ! If our fritnds
over the seas have not grasped the
fact quite clearly, that Is perhaps
because we have not proclaimed 1T
forcibly enough, because, above all,
our acts these last three years have
iEsufficiently indicated our own
mind. France aspires to no political
supremacy. She desires to be the
mentor of nobody. None the less, by
her role in war and peace, by her
geographical situation, by respect for
her past and anxiety for her future,
she Is better qualified than anybody
else to state the case, in simple Ian
guage and for the benefit of friends
who have the good fortune to be pro-
tected by the ocean. the common con-
illusions of continental peoples ever
suffering.
France since 1920 has had no conti-
mental policy. She has concluded two
quite small accords with Belgium
and with Poland. Apart from that.
she has pursued the policy of "laisser
faire.' In regard to Italy, she did
not comprehend that general dis
cussion was necessary IL our neigh
Lors. SO long accustomed to the diplo-
macy of the triple alliance, were to
gain an impression of durability from
the newly constituted Europe. In 1920
France assisted from afar at the
birth of the little entente without
understanding what friendly adj
vances required to be made to Italy.
But could one have imagined that
by pursuing such policy she COM
plcated her relations with England?
One knows, on the other hand. alas,
that an opposition policy, policy of
continental inertia, has not prevented
Franco British relations from often
being troubled in the past three
years. 1t must not be deduced. there
fore, that IL we have not played a
larger role in the rearranging of the
Europe of victory, that is either be-
cause we did not wish to or did not
think of doing so. Opportunities have
not been lacking. a subject which one
must freely discuss.
When France negotiates with Great
Britain and with the United States
she negotiates with two great syndi-
Gates. Great Britain is the British
empire, the dominions which came
from so far to fight beside us; it is a
world firm upon which the sun never
sets.
In every international problem the
British prime minister takes care to
get a mandate from the dominions
anw mandators and mandatories, no.
tably in military matters, present a
common front. The United States
has been for 100 years the speak
err OF two continents, and whatever
disputes may have resulted from the
Monroe Doctrine between North and
South Americans. no one, challenges
the fact that at grave times com
mon bond unikes all. What could be
better than that London and Wash
ington should understand Frances
desire--for the better organization
OF the peace--to group around her
those countries which have suffered
against the same misfortune. known
the same trials and which. in short,
have been created by the same hard
ships.
Not Aware of Grouping
At no moment in the past three
years have English or Americans
been aware of the existence OF this
grouping, and that is why France has
so often appeared to them to be a
continent OF anarchy. How could 1t
be otherwise in the presence of these
nom GO -ordinated states grasping out
after fortune and opportunity as each
new shock overwhelms them. Every
body seems to have been surprised,
caught mapping, these last three
years. by everything that has hap
pened in Europe. When the sovists
throw themselves on Poland in 1920;
when Germany signs the treaty Of
Rapa1lo with them In 1929; when the
Turks reappear drunk with ambition
on the terrain OF their former OK
cesses /, no one has sought to scheme