Evening star., 1925-01-29
HERR|OT SPEECH
ST|RS ALL FRANCE
Left Parties Unable to Un-
derStand Premier's Quick
Turn to NationaIism.
By the Associa ted Press.

By the Associated Press.
| PARIS, January 29.-The whole
political fabric OF France today was
under the spell of yesterdays sensa-
tional utterances regarding French
| security made by Premier Herriot.
These utterances now are generally
regarded as a studied reply to Ger
| many's latest note regarding the pro-
| longed occupation of the Cologne
| bridgehead.
| Politicians of all the groups are
! busily engaged in speculating as to
| just what led NJ. Herriot to make a
declaration with such a nationalistic
| fiavor-such a declaration, 1t was re-
marked in more than one quarter, as
| might just as well have been made by
| Poincare.
Opposed to Followers.
Premier Herriots closest advisers
| have been unceasfng in urging a con-
| ciliatory policy toward Germany,
\ while his Socialist supporters in the
| chamber have been all along par
| ticularly sensitive on the question Of
the occupation of the Rhineland,
which they held to be sort OF dis
guised Imperialism. Yet the premier
| in what was pointed to as one of the
most significant passages of his dis
course declared:
Holding the Rhine may be tho last
resort of France to assure her Sc
| curity.'
1t was remarked in the Hobbies of
the chamber this morning that NJ
Herriot must have had the best of
reasons for adopting q nationalistic
tone now in dealing with Germany,
at the risk of disgruntling II not dis
rupting the government coalition. 1t
Is suggested that one of these rea-
sons is the discovery, reported by
the military control mission, that
Germany's equipment for the manu-
facture, distribution and use on the
field of battle of poisonous gases re
mains intact as 1t existed at the end
of the war, while the deaths of
French veterans who were gased during
the hostilities are increasing with dis
tressing rapidity.
Talking to Allies.
The opinion was expressed in some
groups that the French premier was
talking to the allied and associated
powers as well as to Germany, with
the desire of making it clear that the
lack of security for the French from
tier is felt to be due to the failure or
Great Britain and the United States
to sign the promised pact of guaranty
France of her demand that the Rhine
should be the military frontier of
Germany.
Keynote of Security.
Security was the main theme of
Premier Herriot's long awaited
speech on Frances foreign policy.
Never before since he assumed
power has NJ Herriot spoken OF
Germany in the tones he used today,
and, although he had the entire
chamber, excepting the Communists.
enthusiastically applauding and
cheering him, the general interpre-
tation throughout Parliament was
that his purpose was deeper than
merely catering to the right groups
that 1t was a warning to the British
government against the evacuation of
the Cologne zone.
On the subject Of inter-allied debts
the premier said: What / can do is
solemnly repeat once more what NJ
Viviani has said, what M Poincare
has said-France does not intend to
repudiate her debts
1T Is not the government over
which I preside, attached as 1t is to
respect for treaties and conventions,
that will disavow the principle OF
debts which France has contracted.
fO1nt OF S1cW OF rTanCcs
Even from a. commercial and prac-
tical viewpoint it is impossible that
the allies cannot see the terrible
difficulties there would be in asking
France to transfer to England and
America sums corresponding to their
credit These sums have not in
creased our means OF action, while
the loan of SO0,000,000 gold marks
provided by the Dawes plan-to which
I continue to think we have done well
In subscribing-has given Germany
fresh economic force.
Our relations with Great Britain
were never more cordial" France had
no intention of remaining on the
Rhine forever, but in the face of
Germanys non-fulfllment of the dis
armament clauses of the Versailles
treaty, particularly regarding mill
tary organization, reconstruction OF
the great German general staff, with
extraordinarily perfected technique,
and the fact that the old Prussian
militaristic spirit still existed and
was making preparations for an as
sault upon poor peoples who only
wanted peace, NJ. Herriot declared:
'I say to your allies and friends, to
the English democracy, to Italy, that
we want to beware; that we must
watch what Is taking place over
there"
Faith in Protocol.
The premier, after devoting some
time to explaining how the Geneva
protocol, If ratified. would contribute
greatly to making France feel safe
against unprovoked aggression, ex-
pressed regret that the guarantee
pact" had not been ratified by the
United States and Great Britain.
This provided for Intervention by
the United States and England in case
Of an attack against France" said
NJ. Herriot. 1T is q great pity 1t was
not carried through"
NJ. BRAND interjected:
II as good as had Great Britain's
signature at Cannes"
RULING ON VALIDITY