The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-17
Europe's Only
Chance Is
Pact
Security Covenant Holds
Fate of Nations, Col.
House Declares.
By Milton Bonner
ATE4 Ca.. rIS..4

NEA Serrtce Writer
LONDON, Aug. 17s-"The adop-
ton or rejection of thekecurity pact.
which will guarantee peace between
France and Germany by guarantee
ing the present frontiers, is the big
gest question in Europe. In fact,
it is the biggest question in the
world
1T is far more important than
the question of unemployment, the
chronic oppression in trade, the mat
ter Of inter-allied debts.
For all these things, big as they
are, cannot be settled until Euro
pean peace is made secure. Until
this is accomplished, there will be
unrest and uneasiness and nervous
ness and pessimism' in Europe.
MEN and nations cannot settle
down. That affects trade 1t helps
bring about unemployment. 1t cuts
down national revenues and when
treasures are empty or crippled it's
no use talking about international
debts"
The man who was speaking was
one of the best informed in the world
no less than Col E. M House,
who is over here on his annual pill
grimage to Europe.
Process Will Be Slow
The one time ambassador ex-
traordinary from Wilson to all the
statesmen of Europe, the man who
in a most critical period of our his
tory was eyes and ears for the Presi-
dent, still gets the f1rst-hand dope"
"The security pact" said Colonel
House, was proposed by Germany
to France. 1 gather that England,
Belgium, France, are all eager that
something shall come of it. I be-
lieve something will.
1T will be a slow process. There
will be many parleys, but in the
end 1 hope and believe something
definite will be accomplished"
Just consider the situation for a
moment. France wants peace and
security above all things else. She
has experienced three tremendous
disappointment since the signing of
the armistice.
"The first was when America and
England failed to ratify the pact
guaranteeing her against aggression
by Germany. Since then there have
been other conferences and other
palavers where agreements We're
drawn up, but they always came to
nothing. They were not ratified.
France May Use Might
"If now the present proposed Sc
curity pact goes by the boards, the
French will lose heart and hope.
Before the war they at least had
as an ally a powerful and militant
Russia, Now they haye only the
promised help of small nations to
the east which have their own tre-
mendous troubles.
$50 you mustn't be surprised If
France takes things into her own
hands if the present pourparlers.
fail.
The French flag has been hauled
down and the French troops have
been withdrawn from the Ruhr in
dCCOTQduCS Will L ISuC11 pIOlIllSSS.
But a France, despairing of any
amicable settlement, would be sorely
attempted to take matters into her
own hands and no power could re-
strain her.
"At present France is victorious
and we'll armed. Germany is beaten
and disarmed. There will be the
strongest temptation to France to
use her might while there is still
time and opportunity.
IF the world will not help her in
her longing for security in the
future, she will naturally feel she
must rely on her own resources.
And then anything might happen.
That's why l say every German
should be earnestly praying that
the proposed security pact should be-
come an accomplished fact. Once
that is achieved, Europe can settle
down and approach her other
problems"