Evening star., 1925-10-04
NRGOTIATORS MASTERS.
BRAND and Stresemann Well Fitted
for Security Parley.

By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News
PARIS, October 3.-The Rhineland
pact has reached the point Of active
negotiation. During the nine months
since the German minister OF foreign
affairs. DIR. Stresemann, proposed 1t
TO France all the countries concerned
have been creeping up cautiously to-
ward the decisive conference to open
Monday at Locarno, Switzerland.
By diplomatic notes framed after
weeks Of deliberation they have estab-
ltshed the field of discussion. Now
they must negotiate the pact.
At this conference the pact may not
take its final form. 1t may be neces-
sary to make many changes before
the different nations speaking through
their parliaments accept the new en-
gagements made by their foreign min
listers at Locarno, but the principal
points must be settled now.
Master Compromisers.
The conference either will lead to
definite peace on the Rhine or show
that the French and German people
are not ready to make the compro-
mise which a security pact required.
The able men who will do the nego-
t!attng know what depends on their
decisions. The principal compromises
will have to be made between Foreign
Minister BRAND and Stresemann, and
both are past grand masters at COM
promising. 1t would be hard to pick
German and Frenchman better
fitted for this delicate job.
They have a number of things in
their favor. Public opinion in all the
countries involved is prepared for u
Rhineland security pact. The French
people. otsessed by the question of
how to oblige the British to stay by
their side in the event OF a fresh war
with Germany. have come to accept
the idea of asking Britain only to
guarantee the inviolability OF the
Rhineland.
Beginning Must Be Made.
Both the French and the Belgian
people have accepted the idea Of re-
lying only on an agreement signed
with Britain and Germany for their
security. In principle they arc ready
to negotiate with Germany arbitra-
ton treaties Of some type that Brit
ain considers effective. The British,
for their part, have accepted the idea
Of taking a definite engagement to
defend the neutrality Of the Rhine
land. provided France and Germany
and Belgium and Germany sign salts
factory arbitration treaties.
The Germans, after period of
"sturm und drang" seem to have re-
nounced definitely Alsace and Lor-
raine, Malmedy and Eupen. The
soul struggle in Germany has been
terrific. To the outside world it has
only become known through violent
speeches opposing the Rhineland pact
but it leaves Germany emotionally
breathless on the eve Of the con-
ference.
There is. in addition. a general feel
ing throughout Europe that a begin
ming to security pacts and arbitration
agreements must be made. The
as a clearing house for political ideas
in Europe, has occupied itself almost
exclusively with the idea Of European
peace and security. Its final product,
the Geneva protocol, was not accept
ed. but made imperative some def
mite move by the countries which
repudiated 1t. Great Britain was the
chief Of these and logically Great
Britain has been tho chief country to
urge the security pact. Though Ger
many proposed 1t, Britain takes no
pains to hide the fact the inspiration
was British.
bellove L. ,. approves.
Lord d'Ahernon. British Ambassador
in Berlin, Is the father Of the pact,
and it Is the common belief in Europe
that President Coolidge. through Am
bassador Houghton, gave a diplomatic
nod of assent to the idea in the very
beginning. Both British and American
backing are of a kind which can be
tacitly avowed. II the pact goes
through. and tacitly denied in the
event 1t fails.
However that may be, the continent
Of Europe has come to the belief that
British arms and American money,
and perhaps in time American arms
and British money, depend upon the
"pacification" OF Europe; in other
words. the pact, and naturally each is
playing these considerations of
against the other.
France needs the assurance Of Brit
ish arms, but Germany must have
American money. so goes the play of
the argument between the two coun.
tries.
There is a general pressure upon
France to meet Germany as an equal
and upon Germany to renounce def
initely what II lost in war. It goes
against the grain Of both of them. and
1t remains to be seen II they can bring
themselves to 1t. But that would be
comparatively easy If that was all
there was to the problem.