San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
LESS TALK OF FLAGS

= ~ Wo INDEPENDENT reports from fdriS
received simultaneously in this country
feed the hope that Europe's vital prob
lem will be solved before the current
year shall have faded into history. Ac-
eording to one of these dispatches, an
ticipating early recommendations from
the committees of experts appointed by
the Reparation Commission, indications
are that such recommendations will be
accepted "by all governments concerned"
including particularly France, which
country has been presenting the great
est obstacles to peace. The other dis
patch reports that the committee headed
by Charles G.. Dawes has worked out,
and will recommend, a plan whereby
the railroads Of Germany may be used
to pay reparations and to secure the
claims Of France.
Could France, in the light Of her post
war record, logically be expected to ac-
cept any such plan?
"A negative reply would accord we'll
with the evidence-and there is much
of it-that France Is concerned more
with the project Of achieving perma-
nent self-protection, in the military sense,
than with the problem of collecting
damages" for the losses inflicted upon
her by the Germans during the world
war. But there is another corlsidera-
ton; 1t may be more easily compre-
hended II France be for the moment
regarded as an individual Of a type
with which all the world is familiar.
In the individual, pride may be either
an asset or a liability, a facility or a
hindrance; from the standpoint of others
1t may be either admirable or repre-
hensible. Some individual. are too
proud" to acknowledge a mistake on
their part; they will strive to uphold
their dignity" at any expense.
France made a mistake In undertak.
ing to hold German territory in bondage
The Ruhr project has aggravated
Frances plight instead of relieving it
True, Germany's hands have been tied
but France has put herself somewhat
in the position Of man who, to de-
stroy his enemies, pulls the temple dowr
upon them-and himself.
French officials must have realized tn,
hopelessness of their country's post
war course. Even Premier Poincare
who, as former attorney for the French
steel trust, might plausibly be though
to be in favor of annexing the Ruhr
must have admitted to himself that ii
persisting in her Ruhr policy France wa
threatening herself with internal ruin
For some time Frenchmen have BEEF
investing their money in foreign securi
ties to avert losses due directly to de
probation of the franc-depreciatio-
caused by the steady aggravation of tn
governments fiscal plight, which pligh
in turn, is largely result Of expend
lures on account Of the Ruhr project, i
particular, and of the country's "prt
paredness" program, in general.
But the nations flag was up; in tn
eyes of the French, their country
"honor" was at stake. France could NJ
withdraw from the Ruhr, and confe;
that she had erred, without doing viz
lence to her "pride"-unless, perchanc
some plausible substitute for her polio
one that would seem to give her II
victory, should be offered.
If the report concerning the recon
mendations of the committee of exper
is correct, such substitute is in pro
pect. Ard Mr.. Dawes has made it pla
enough that he and his co-workers a
not concerned with flags. He has sa
that there must be less talk of flags, lie
talk even of Justice. and more attentiC