Evening star., 1923-05-06
:ERENCH STRENGTH
!: !: :....:.::'.."]MENACES ENGLAND
Uncomfortable Position Die
-
" tates Move Toward Ger
many, Is Harden View.
SITUATION is ANALYZED
Says Britain Stands Helpless in
Face of Vast Military Power
in France.
SITUATION is ANALYZED
BY MACMILLAN HARDEN.
Germany's Foremost Publictst.

BY Cable to The Star.
BERLIN, May 5.-Three C's domi-
mated European affairs this week
Chester, Cuno and Curzon. Only one
of them wears the uniform of the
warrior, so how can one doubt mill
tarism is disappearing and the peace
of the world is assured?
Curzon's speech in the house of
lords had for it's obvious purpose the
construction of bridge of gold over
which the Berlin government could
escape from the tempest in the Ruhr.
The question, now that it is over, is
whether the Continental powers, par
ticularly France, will be of the opin-
ion that this gold will replace the
paper of Berlin and thus make the
bridge passable. All depends on how
this eventually will be answered.
Cur1on View Changes.
As was the case when Secretary
Hughes made his noted New Haven
address, the CuHo attempt to salvage
the situation which followed the Cur
zon speech was the result Of an un-
derstanding between London and Ber-
lin. OF course, Curzon never was the
friend of Germany. Our former i'm
perial diplomats regarded him as the
most dangerous for Germany of all
England's coming statesmen. How
ever, since he has abandoned his all
absorbing occupation with Oriental
affairs, he has realized how utterly
unwise would be the dfSarming of
Germany while leaving France and
Turkey all of their weapons and
armament possibilities
CurZon naturally would wish. mas
much as England's Immediate worries
have to be with Calais. Brest, Zee
brugee and French submarines and
airplanes, that France and Germany.
from the latter OF which nothing need
be feared from the sea. shall reach a
solution of peaceful payment OF debts
which would permit demilitarization
of the entire continent and the resto-
ration Of a sort of a balance OF power.
He realizes that with Lenin out Of
actual control Of Russian affairs, that
nation is a definite military factor in
the situation; that Harding's America
exhibits no desire TO protect Euro
Europeans England would stand alone
today facing Frances indisputable
military suprema and eventually
f1ankrd by Poland. the Little Entente
end Turkey. In other words he. more
than any one else. knows England is
in most uncomfortable position.
Made situation Plain.
Ferlln realizes tnlS ana II was
proper for German statesman to
take advantage of the situation but
hardly wise for him to illuminate it
SO strongly in the view of the entire
world. Cuno caused Curzon to be
praised so highly from German
could not help seeing behind the
scenes and the French press was able
to accuse the British lord with being
pro-Gcrman. This compelled Curzon
publicly to announce he had no inten-
tion of becoming arbitrator between
France and Germany.
The Cuno offer followed and then
the watchword was given out in Ger
many that Curzon had created a new
situation. This is false. Both Brit
ish premiers Of past years have often
said the same thing. France demands
guarantees of reparations payments
and security against German attack
in the future. Germany publicly
maintains she has offered all she can.
The chancellor. who. through his un-
love for the Eavarian people, has
caused the German people to believe
France only damaged herself by the
Ruhr invasion and must soon retire,
now needs a pretext for breaking his
solemn promise not to negotiate be-
fore the Ruhr occupation is relieved
and at the same time keep his royal
ist supporters from rebelling.
Failure Held Certain.
The entire situation bears an
alarming likeness to that Germany
experienced during the war and armi-
stice. Today. as then. the battle is
being conducted with the most pious
earnestness and the greatest sacri-
fees. paid for with the ruin of all
national wealth-a struggle whose
failure was certain from the first
moment and whose certain failure
could be denied only by those suf-
ferlng from self-deception or fooled
by lies. The only outward difference
between then and now is the 5000. 1000
Germans killed or crippled then and
the six to eight trillion paper marks
now being sacrificed
The third c didn't keep the reins'
tight enough on the second. And the
first c / mention? Well, while civ
ilians still were suffering a relapse
from the war sickness, Admiral Ches-
ter, like shrewd business man, and
without bothering his head about
politicians. secret treaties or anything
else has secured for American enter
prise a general mortgage on the best
part of Turkey. Europe hasn't cot
over worrying and wondering about It.
Copyright, 1927