The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-08-20
WHY THE ENTENTE FAILED

WHY THE ENTENTE fAlLED
Even the decent veil that the Ian
guage of diplomacy throws over the
exchanges of statesmen cannot con-
ceal from the world that the Franco
British entente is at an end, says
the Kansas City Times. The fiction
that it still lives may be kept up, for
like marriage in an unhappy house
hold it furnishes facilities for re-
crimination too valuable to be thrown
away, but so far as its original pun
poses are concerned it is OF no fur
Their use.
WHY has it failed at time when
the necessity of its operation never
was more apparent? The obvious
answer reminds one Of the reason
Dickens gave for the separation OF
, Mr.. and Mrs. Camp. They were in
compatible in their drink. Britain
and France are incompatible in their
national interests.
Craftsmanship never read a palmer
lesson. Nations can make what
agreements they will, set up what
leagues of nations they choose. But
once their national interests are
brought into direct conflict at trea-
ties and all agreements Will fail
Britain and France have been brought
into such conflict. Not suddenly, but
through a course Of years whose |
events have demonstrated that what |
ia good for one is not good for the
other. The French policy since the
end of the war has been to break
Germany-to break her economically.
That policy is opposed to British in
terests. Britain has wanted Germany
to pay, but not at the expense OF her
economic independence which British
craftsmanship regards as essential to
Europe's readjustment. The French,
speaking largely don't care whether
Germany pays or not SO long as she
is made helpless economically and
militarily.
The French occupation of the Ruhr,
whatever justification for 1t French
craftsmanship was able to find, really |
was directed to this end. 1t was
meant to break Germany. 1t hasn't
maid France except as that result, so
far as it has been achieved, can be
regarded as a payment But france t
is satisfied with it. 1t accepts that
payment and is determined to take
more of the same kind. {
The British thought they saw the
result of this policy from the start
and would have nothing to do with it.
They were right from their stand
point. and what has followed has f
horne out their apprehensions. 1t
has stopped Preparations not only to :
France but to Britain, and 1t has s
struck British industrial and CONNER t
cia] interests a deadly blow. Thus
Rritish and French national interests :
are brought into an irrepresslble con- '
flict. and with what result? With
the inevitable result that nationalism
tri,1mphs over internationalism-th =
entente with all its traditions, its a
idealism, is really high and fine pol r
icy, goes overheard. y
We need not be surprised. Nation :
alism will jettison all such cargoes
pubonavar the ship's safety seems to c
require that action. Nationalism will q
iettison the League of Nations in the
same way at any time the league b
fails to serve it's purpose. The league
cannot serve the purpose of all its
members. because their interests are y
opposed. and when it serves one as n
against another the nation Observed C
will repudiate it as promptly as the .
entente has been re- 6
pudiated. Il
Nationalism will have its own or
light for it. That is the lesson for y
American craftsmanship to learn in ~
he present European situation. Is e,
he league of nations ready to come 81
ack? =
"a "a "a
NOW'S THE TIME TO ACT
The meeting held in this city Sat y