San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-07
Pretense and Sham Dropped
as One Good Result Of
Premiers' Meeting.
WHAT WILL FRANCE DO?
England Believes She Is
After Complete Suppress
sion of Germany.
Nv 4. G.. GARDINER.

Copyright, 1928, by The San Antonio Light.
London, Jan. 8.-The momentous
Paris conference has brought Europe
down to bedrock realities at last. For
four years England and France have
been trying to pretend they wanted the
same thing.
Now the naked fact is revealed that
they desire entirely different and ire
conciable propositions which are at
last frankly avOwed.
However serious is the situation thus
created, it is an enormous gain to have
gotten rid of the shams. BOnar Law
has done the world an invaluable SER
vice in stating the British policy frank
ly. even bluntly, for the first time and
bringing the controversy TO an open is
sue after four years.
Had this course been taken at the
beginning Europe now would be on her
way toward reconstruction. Instead it
now is only realizing the tremendous
fact that all along France had intended
that Germany should be kept in per-
manent economic and political serfdom.
Preparations has always been a Secon-
Diary motive in Paris. The main pur-
pose has been to keep such a stranglc-
hold on Germany as to prevent any
possibility of her recovery.
Issues Now Are Clear.
Hitherto England refused to come to
grips with the Allies on this point. Now
the issue is joined and henceforth Eng
land stands for nabling Germany to
recover and pay and France stands for
preventing Germany paying in order
to prevent her recovering.
IowfS hand fOrppd hV thp infer
nal situation in Germany. Unlike
France, England is not self-contained.
She depends on foreign trade for her
existence. Without revival of Eu-
rope. the terrible depression in British
industry must continue. German re-
covery is the key 10 European recOv-
every. Hence the German question be-
comes most vital British question. A
stranglehold on Germany is strangle-
hold on England.
The French policy of administering
Germany as a bankrupt with African
troops in the background to keep the
German people under control would
mean the final eclipse of European civ
ilizatiOn. IL France chooses to tread
that path alone she will be compelled
to establish an undisputed military
hegemony in Europe and maintain it in
perpetuity. 1t is an impossible dream.
Napoleon only succeeded in doing it for
decade and POincare will discover that
the world did not dethrOne Prussian
miIitarism in order to make France the
military dictator of Europe.
The point blank refusal of POincare
to discuss the British scheme has ere
ated a most unfavorable impression in
the mind of the English public. Sym
patty with France and hostility toward
Germany has been so insrained in the
minds of the people here that it is diff
cult even now to readjust the point of
view but the events of the LIS. few days
have wrought profound change. 1t is
agreed on all hands that there is no
possibility of reConciling the French and
British views.
Wants Political Suppression.
IL only money were in dispute Eng
land would pay any price for a real
settlement in Europe with peace and
disarmament assured. The question of
Germany's capacity to pay is one on
which the experts of all countries are
in agreement, but France is not con-
cerned with the economic facts and re-
fuses TO consider them. In her present
frame of mind, France will consider no
solution that does not provide for the
political suppression to Germany.
Meanwhile the hand of France has
been greatly strengthened by her posi-
ton in regard to the Turk. The dead
lock at the Lausanne conference is
mainly due to the critical relations be-
tween France and England. The Turk,
past master in exploiting all differ
ences between Christian powers, never
was in a stronger position than now.
| When France backed him against the
Greeks and provided him with guns
she gained his friendship. Now the
Turk is in undisguised conflict with the
| British.
Much anxiety prevails as to the
course of events in the Near East if
the Anglo French entente -ctualiy is at
an end and France carries through to
the finish her planned independent ac-
ton in Germany. The Turk will be-
come a powerful pawn in support OF
the French policy. Whether France
will use this as a means of keeping Eng
land complacent or to add to he rcompn'
cations is nice question. But events
of Lausanne will give clue to the in
tentions of Paris.