New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-01-14
Trouble Brewers

In the confused and battling news
concerning the resignation Of the
BRAND Ministry it is not easy for an
American to discover the roots of
the trouble
Why the angry friction between
Great Britain and France? On both
sides is acknowledgment, as there
must be, of the communities of inter
est and sentiment that link two great
peoples. France recognizes the i'm
rensity of Britain's sacrifices, and
Britain surely does not forget how
France, with forts of living flesh,
barred the way to the onrush of
barbarian horde. In the brotherhood
Of the trenches sleep together the
wcarcrs of the brown and the wear
crs Of The blue SO the cleavage can't
be deep.
Uut why any at all? France has
long cried out against the injustice
Of objections, when she was denied
pledges Of security, to her measures
for self-protection But at Cannes,
gust before the explosions, Lloyd
George. deeming that British opinion
was at last ready for forward step,
offered the asked-for protection.
Here was not material for quarrel.
Nor vas the crisis precipitatcd by
l..
PREPARATION payments. Rathenau, the
German delegate, had been turned
away, his pleas for abatement being
dismissed with the clearest state
ment that yet has been made that
nation with $l50,O0O 600 900 in prop
crty can pay Sl3. 1000 100000 if it has
the proper Will.
Nor is there evidence that the split
came because Russia was to be re-
licvcd Of the obligation t. pay the
mill ards Of francs that the French
peasants advanced to the building up
of Russian railroads and public
works. On the contrary, the invita-
ton to the Soviet government, al
though highly Objectionable on moral
grounds, assumed that Russia should
arrange TO pay her debt, and thus is
not. to be rated as anti French.
What, then, is the explanation of
the amazing rupture? The simple
enc that ii is an outbreak of spirit
of folly artificially developed seems
as plausible as any other. The folly
consists in yielding to the blandish-
ments of those who in both Great
Britain and France have been work
I, ing in the German interest and
. toward ncgativing the wars victory.
In Great Britain the Keynes school
has steadily preached the doctrine,
first. That Germany couldn't pay, and
: lately that she shouldn't be required
: 70 pay Across the Channel taking
no,c OF this propaganda. and also of
the propaganda directed 90 condon-
Zlne rather than to condemning Boil
sshcvlsm. a large part of the French
= public has become infected with the
Z idea that all Great Britain was poi
soncd. 50 many Frenchmen have
been led to fear vital surrenders-
z first by Clemenceau and recently by
z Briand-and their attitude has been
widely misrepresentcd as militaristic
= and aggressive. Keynes and his
school and the Overfearful of France
have thus elaborated to help Ger
many. Perhaps this has not been the
intention. but intentions do not de-
z tcrmine consequences.
Those who would add to good in
Z adopt good methods should unite to
! suppress the sewers of the seeds Of
discord. In every Allied country
such are pestiferously active. They
cloak themselves with pious desires,
but within they are foul and rotten
It is still the duty Of sound men and
y women 10 suspect the motives and to
reject the advice of any persons who
on any excuse would foment distrust
among the winners of the war. Their
differences Of interest are mainly inn |
ag1Dary. For every matter of legiti- !
mate opposition there are a hundred I
commanding union and mutual conf
dcncc