The New York herald., 1922-01-22

man repdrauOne ana 10 an ECONOMIC
agreement with Russia
what Britain Offers France.
Great Britain has made certain Of
fers to France. or rather, Lloyd George
has made those offers in behalf Of
Great Britain. The object of them Is
not mysterious. It is to assure France
first OF all of England's abiding SYM
pathy and friendship. in spite of all
the bitterness of French comment.
and to relieve France Of great ap-
prehensions so that she will be in
clined to work for the recovery of
Europe and for the rehabilitation of
armed force. That is good object
and II it could be achieved would
make many difficult problems easy Of
solution.
In the first place Great Britain has
made a straight and definite offer to
France to waive all British claims
upon German reparation payments for
1929 as a start. and to give France
priority In all such payments from
Germany. There Is not man in Eng
land who is not glad to back such
an offer, for friendships sake with
France, as we'll as for self-interest.
For England does not want German
money at the cost of a further slump
in the value Of the mark. enabling
Germany to undersell us in all the
markets of the world.
But another and greater offer has
been made by Great Britain to France.
and 1t is one which many British peo-
pie will regard with frank doubt,
deeply anxious whether. 1t Is not taxi
ing too great risk. 1t is the offer OF
a pledge that in the event Of an un-
provoked attack upon France by Ger
many the youth Of Britain will stand
shoulder to shoulder with the French
army, as once before. That Is great
pledge from a people who have loft
quite recently the flower Of their youth
in the fields Of France and to whom
another such sacrifice would be the
end Of all things.
To Avert Provocation.
The fault Is in that word "unpro-
voked.'' There was never q war In
which tho defending side did not be-
lieve that the challenge against It
was unprovoked. And to be quite
frank British folk are not quite sure
that the policy Of France in the recent
past has been of a tendency to smooth
the way Of future peace with Ger
many. We do not want Lloyd George
or any other man to pledge the life
of the younger generation to France
under Poincare or any other states
man who might call for military aid
to a new war which might be pro-
voked from the French side OF the
lines though called "unprovoked.
That is plain speaking.
In this dread prospect Of the future
ono must think and speak and Write
plainly. One thing ie necessary IN
most vital way IL this new Anglo
French compact Is to go forward. In
return for that British pledge France
must give formal guarantees that her
world policy will be directed by q
spirit of conciliation and loyalty TO
tho spirit of peace and economic re-
covery in Europe. which has been
formulated by the Washington con-
ference and by the British proposals
at Cannes.
She must formally renounce her
claim to that invasion Of the Runr
and the permanent occupation OF that
left bank Of the Rhine In the event OF
Germany being unable-honestly-to
fulfill her reparation payments with
out financial bankruptcy. which would
tend to new chaos in Europe. She
must agree to demolish her standing
army to more reasonable size, pro-
vided Russia Is compelled to demobi-
lie the Red army, and she must I'M
pose the same condition upon the Po-
lish allies.
She must renounce also her amhi-
tions for a great submarine Meet
which would be direct threat to Brit
ish coasts and British shipping. The
Poincare Cabinet or any other must
come into line with those who are
working for the recovery Of the world
and the assurance Of peace before
British youth is pledged to stand be-
side her in the event Of unprovoked
war.
If France plays the game In this
spirit the old entente cordiale will be
reestablished and reinspired by a
warmth Of sympathy between two ma
tions who desire each others friend
ship and each others strength.
Copyright. 1921. By Tho Mcclure Newspaper