Evening star., 1922-01-13

TO ARMS PARLEY
Resignation of Premier De-
cIared Direct Consequence
Of Washington Conference.
By PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
The. resignation of. Aristide BRAND
as premier Of France is apparently a
direct consequence of the Washington
conference. The French policy ever
since the Paris conference has been to
apply the Versailles treaty. especially
as regards Germany. This applica-
tion. difficult in itself. has been rem
dered doubly difficult, France consid-
ers. by the attitude of Britain. which
the French think has been consistent
resistance. The stability and peace of
Europe. France believes. depends
upon the harmonious collaboration Of
France and Britain. but upon equal
terms; The actual situation for the
last three years is conceived by the
Britain overbore France, and caused
France to make all the sacrifices.
BRAND, prior to the Washington
conference, had himself gone SO far in
the direction Of moderation. Of re-
peated concessions both to Germany
ho .La
Der had practically decided to over
turn his ministry. BRAND, going
frankly before the chamber asked for
one more chance.
He wanted to go Washington, he
said He hoped to enlist the support of
America in such a way that British
pressure upon France would henceforth
be alleviated. He would get a guar
antee for France from the United
States II he could. but failing this.
he would at least try to win. American
sympathy and moral appreciation. The
chamber weakened. gave BRAND a vote
Of confidence. and he came to Washing
ton.
His effort to obtain an American guar
antee failed. But. on returning to Paris.
he made speech to the chamber. in
which he said plainly that he had sue
ceeded in winning American sympathy.
Rene Fiviani. returning a few weeks
later. corroborated Brands statement.
But at about the same time the debate
in the. Washington conference began
concerning Frances naval claims.
Placed II False Position.
Tae French delegates had no sooner
set forth these demands than the en-
tire American press loosed a mighty
roar OF disapprobation against France
Although the question was not one
IL which the United States had a d.
rect interest, the United States: al.
lowed itself to be placed in the false
position Of supporting Britain against
france In a European dispute. The
French chamber seems immediately
to have understood that not only had
France failed to win Americas SYM
pathy at Washington, but that Amer
ica.s sympathy was all with Britain
From this moment forward,
Brands political fate seems to have
been practically sealed. He went to
Cannes to make final effort. Fall
ing American sympathy. there was
one last chance-hamely. that Of win
ming Britain itself to the point of
giving guarantee to France. Lloyd
George apparently understood the sit
uation. He offered France the much
desired guarantee. but he tied so
many. strings to the offer-strings re-
qniring from France concessions
which the entire French people re-
gard as of the most serious nature
that the chamber seems Immediately
to have revolted. BRAND rushed
back from Cannes. laid his case be-
fore the hostile deputies, andre
signed.
Declared Serious situation. .
The resultant situation is a serious
one for Europe and for the whole
world. The events Of the last three
years haYe tended more and more to
force France into a position of bit
terness and isolation which bodies ill
for European reconstruction. The
way in which the American delegates
and press handled the French crisis
here q few weeks ago was such as
to increase this French sentiment
of. bitterness and isolation.
President Millerapd- asked Ray
mond Poincare to serve as premier.
In this case this is the end for the
ton and compromise which Briand
has steadily pursued. The Loucheur-
Rathenau agreements, the Washing
ton naval ratio agreements, the
Genoa conference, the proposed mora
torium for Germany-all are threat
now venture to forecast what the
next few months may bring.
The responsibility for this crisis in
world affairs cannot Justly be placed,
in my opinion. entirely upon: the
French legislature. Britain must
II its policies toward France had
been wiser and more generous BRAND
might today have continued in power.
And we, too, must bear our share of
the responsibility. Our, policy of
isolation from European affairs has
been q fundamental factor in; bring
ing about the bitter isolation Of
France. 49, i !
French Not Understood.s
Our refusal to promise to support
France in case Of a renewal of un-
tor The complete failure of our dele
gates here in Washington to UNDER
stand the French state of mind in
the naval ratio crisis. and their ap-
parent support of the British posi-
ton. were last straws. It seems now
to the. French people that, despite
bic right and justice Of their case.
the whole world is 1eagued against
them. Inevitably, their reaction, far
from being one of humbleness and
contrition, 1e. one of injured pride
and strong determinations. Since
BRAND, the moderate man, the man
try Poincare:: the man OF iron.
& do not believe that France in
the long run can avoid the direction
which BRAND has been giving to tts
foreign policy. This direction Is in
herent In the very circumstances. But
reconstruction, a delay in which some
hold and perhaps dangerous expert
ments are likely to be ATTEMPTED by
= - Copyright, 1927
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