Evening star., 1925-02-08
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

n n ANY times since the World
NH War it has fallen to the lot
jNv of Great Britain to interfere
L in intolerable political con-
ditions and hinder prolonga-
ton of constantly arising jeal-
ousies and enmities between Ger
many and France. thereby holding
the continental fabric together until
the general reconstruction process
can be permitted to reach logical
ends. Now. at a time when the
atmosphere is surcherged by light
ming shafts between Berlin and
Paris, Foreign Minister Chamberlain
has stepped into the breach and given
such encouragement to anicable
settlement of contentious questions
that there is every reason to believe
that recalcitrancy will become "A dead
isSue-at least until another issue
shall arise which shall permit the
Germans and the French once more
to vent their antagonisms.
Security Pact Promised.
During the conference of peace in
Paris 10th Lloyd George and Wood
row Wilson, beset on every hand by
the contrary attitude of Clemenceau
of France, in bringing about adjust
ment of the myriad questions arising
before the leaders OF the conference
!':omised that they would influence
their respective governments in favor
of a treaty which would pledge these
''Hw"rs at all times to uphold the
security of France against treach-
~.U,S neiShbors. This in addition
to the League of Nations plan, which
would have provided a need of Sc
curity for the French But the best
laid plans of mice and men oft times
go awry and Notwithstanding the
promises of the great British and
Anne rican leaders these treaties guar
anteeing the security of France never
have been acted upon.
In the interim France has been
beset many times in the formulation
of her International policies In pro-
ceeding against Germany in the repa-
rations issue, which brought to pass
occupation of the Ruhr and the
tightening of her grip upon the
Rhineland, France has insisted that
all such measures We're made neces-
sary by the refusal of either America
or Great Britain to guarantee Frances
security. Without guarantees it nat
urally was expected th-t France
would insist on maintaining gigantic
armies and would use them, further
more in forcing fulfllment of the
treaty of Versailles
Position of America.
America has, officially speaking.
been disinterested in the actual prog
ress of the French effort to make
Germany pay, though unofficially in
Government circles there always has
prevailed the belief that France was
proceeding beyond the limits of pru-
dence and always against the best
interests of eventual amicable set
Elements designed to bring perpetual
peace and prosperity to the continent.
In so far as this peace might affect the
financial future of America there has
been little thought of the French ac-
ton. Most certainly has America
gone further and further away from
the treaty of guarantee. This has
been particularly true, owing to the
French failure to meet her obligatio
to this Government arising out of the
last war. Frances continued propa-
ganda against the payment of her
s4000,000,000 debt to America has
widened the breach. Furthermore,
the cultivated wave of i'll will that
has swept France from one end to
the other has tended to widen SYM
pathies also. Americans know that
this bitter antagonism in France
which has been growing since the
war has in large measure been fos-