Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-29
Friday, June 20, 1923.
.oLp DIPLOMACY SPEAKS

certain limit, which the informed
observer sees is putting the British
air force in rivalry with that of
France, is not unexpected, unpleasant
though it be. The prevailing COM
ment is to the effect that a greater
air force will enable Great Britain
''to hold her own with France in the
diplomatic duel in which these two
powers are now engaging"
There is a familiar sound about
this. Before the war diplomacy and
. force were associated in the mind.
diplomacy and righteousness never.
We were going to change all that, we
told ourselves during the war. The
need was appallingly apparent, SO
visible to every intelligence that we
could not conceive ourselves so
stupidity ubiquitous as to think for a
moment of returning to the old dip
Iomatic methods, that is, some
thought so. They had faith in human
intelligence as applied under ordinary
stress.
And here We are back again.
France has not signed the Washing
ton agreement on naval restrictions,
and is straining every nerve for
superiority in the air. Thu reason?
Well, conscious of her superiority
for the offensive she has been impos-
ing her will on Germany and England
t., TO
stop, ever If she wished to do so.
We have thought France right in the
main in her contentious. But British
labor has opposed the melting out of
and British labor is already fitting
itself with spurs and stirrups in the
hope that events will lift it into the
saddle. Once there British labor
might say "stop" to France. Russia,
TOD, might seek to get back Poland or
to affiliate with Germany and France
well equipped, would be the only one
to say stop" in that quarter and
have it mean anything.
These are possibilities rather than
probabilities, but enough to afford
France an excuse, such as 1T is. OF
course, neither France nor anyone
else can expect her neighbors to view
this calmly. Even though she has
not really been arrogant in the appli-
cation Of her power, as yet, that is
no evidence she will not be. That
would come, at least always has come
to a people of aggressive spirit and
possibilities.
It is inconceivable that Germany
reluctantly hears this about England
arming herself. On the contrary it
will stiffen Ter neck in obstinacy. for
it enlarges the possibility of rupture
in the allied relations. How differ
ent this from what might have been
had England and France met in a
mood and with intelligence enough
to do the right thing regardless Of its
Immediate effect! In all probability
tho trouble with Germany would
have been settled long ago and
everyone would have profited there
from. But any government in either
country that had consented to do
this would have met with probable
defeat at home. Not but those at
home want to keep the peace. if they
really knew how this might be done,
but above all they want to secure
livelihood. One doesn't like to take
too many chances with scarcity of
bread and butter in the immediate
background. They would have been
told settlement interfered with live
lihood. Moreover the struggle for
that livelihood is so absorbing they
take little heed of polite requests to
spend so much for this or that which
the leaders decide is needed. They
will not vote increased tax for arma-
ments unles; their apprehensions are
excited, and once apprehension is
excited by whom shall it be allayed!
There is golden mean in this
matter of preparedness. This is dis
regarded, both by the pacifist, de-
claring the lion i. perfectly safe as
a companion for the lamb, and by
those whose ambition or greed seeks
fattening from excessive armament.
The people, meanwhile. are incapable
of determining just what the golden
mean may be but they are not in
capable of taking an interest. They
should know how the Government OF
our country went about its program
for restricting the burden of naval
development. how we put our cards
on the table, how we suggested that
we sacrifice fully as much as any
one else If not more. how we DEM
onstrated the possibility of diplomacy
md righteousness affiliating. The
people seemed to like that sort of
diplomacy; why don't they insist on
more OF it. Why don't the people of
France, the people of England. insist
on it? 1t ought to be plain to them
what it will mean if England and
France enter upol unrestrained
rivalry in any kind of armament, that
1t will be piling up burdens for the
public to bear. Unless they are
capable of seeing this, capable of
making such an insistence, what be-
comes Of "vox populi?"