Evening star., 1924-08-18
HERRIoT MUST EXPLAIN.
Many in France Ignorant of
Dawes Plan.
BY Radio TO The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyr ght, 1874

BY Radio TO The Star and Chicago Daily
News. topyr ght. 1874.
PARIS. August 1S.-When Parlia-
ment conveneS next Thursday to con-
slider ratifi .ation of the decisions of
the London conference. Premier Her
riot will not need to defend his ac
tionS but merely will be called on
to explain to the majority of Par
lament the meaning of the Dawes
report.
The majority of French deputies
seem to be thoroughly ignorant of
the experts plan. and their ignorance
is illustrated by a letter from Dep
uty Molinie, representing the depart
ment of the Seine. to NJ. Herriot pub
liShed in the newspaper Radical ask
ing him on his return from London
Ito explain to representatives ofs the
nation the meaning of the Dawes
plan which was the basis of the Lon
don conference" The letter adds
that "a clear explanation of this an
mex to the treaty Versailles will be
most welcome to US since at the
time when it was published, great
majority of the members were so
busy electioneering that they had no
time actually to digest the real
meanings of that great work.
VIII Allow Trial.
French public opinion, although un-
easy over the future. will undoubtedly
give a few months more credit to the
Herriot cabinet in order to enable it
to translate into positive facts the
promises obtained in London, eSpe-
cially regarding Frances war debts
and security. So far the only posi-
tive thing achieved is evacuation of
the zone between Dortmund and
Hoerde. which was occupied in Janu-
ary, 1923, by the Franco-Belgians as
reprisal against Germany'S refusing
to allow direct traffic between France
and Poland. All other gains obtained
by France are still in the shape of
promises. However, in many ques-
tions France obtained moral salts
faction. such as adoption of Herriot's
arbitration plan on outstanding vital
questions, Americas sympathetic in
terest in European questions and re-
newal of the entente with Great
Britain.
May Not be Permanent.
How permanent these advantages
are it is difficult to say. All the rest
of the advantages obtained at London,
Nationalists say, are mere promises
Inc Germans promised to execute
the Dawes plan, to come to Paris next
October to discuss a new commercial
treaty. and to go to Geneva to discuss
disarmament. Prime Minister Mac
Donald promised to give kind and
careful consideration to the French
war debt. How these promises will
be kept nobody knows and the ex-
listing feeling of uneasiness is ex-
planned by the fact that neither the
British nor the German heads of their
governments possess a sufficient ma
jority in their respective parliaments
to put through an eventual arrange
ment giving full satisfaction to
French interests.
when all of the above mentioned
questions come up again we will be
compelled to make new concessions
W hich in the end might prove disas-
trous to France" said a French sem
ator to the writer.
What the future has in store for
France is difficult to forecast. The
fact remains, however. that the ma
jority of the French people. while not
enthusiastic about the results of the
London conference, are glad they OBJ
tained even promises and are looking
forward hopefully to their fulfllment.