Evening star., 1925-02-01

Il OF france
- eyes Chancellor Luther of
Germany with suspicion and
L Herr Luther shows about the
same degree of respect for the
statesman presiding over the des-
nnles of the French people. Today,
as at all times in history, the inher-
ent far-reaching distrust of one
people for the other is made mani
fest. The leaders of the two gov
ernments now are more prodigal in
broadcasting seeds OF distrust than
at any time since the war.
Possibly the most singular pro-
cedure and one most dangerous to a
complete clearing UP of Europe's per-
picking problems comes from Premier
Herriot. During the Macdonald
regime in England Herriot, a So
cialist to his finger tips, having
achieved power because of his stead
fast stand that an ameliorative pol
icy by France would bring Germany
and the allies to a better under
standing. thereby promoting the
cause of peace, co-operated with the
British premier. During conferences
in England and informal conversa-
tions between the two governments
the Dawes plan was given life and
this was hailed as the panacea for
all reparations evils and as a scheme
of cooperative endeavor that would
remove 80 per cent of the potential
causes of difficulty as between ma
tionsi When Premier Herriot ascrib-
ed to the general doctrine of peace
by arbitration, plus security, and
thereby furthered the protocol to the
League of Nations covenant In
Geneva, Herriot was hailed pro-
noting the just ends of humanity and
by the same breath Frances aban-
donment of strictly nationalistic
theories in regard to external af-
fairs was heralded as bringing a
new era in international relation
ships. Germany went about meeting
her part OF the bargains in connec-
tion with the Dawes plan. Elections
were held, and Germans insisted
upon fulillment of this scheme, even
though a nationalistic regime be in
power.
Strife Stirred Up.
But before the political changes
which washed up a centerist-nation-
alist government in Berlin came to
pass the allies at the behest of
France stated that Germany had not
complied with the disarmament fea-
lures of the treaty of Versailles, and
as consequence the evacuation of
Cologne by allied forces would be
deferred beyond January, the time
limit specified in the treaty. This
brought a furore in Germany and re-
peated affirmations that the allied
control commission had not accurate
ly depicted the true situation. Dur
ing the past week Germany, at the be-
hest OF Chancellor Luther, announced
her innocence and demanded further
proofs by the allied powers. AS a mat
ter of fact the report of the inter-
allied commission, which was to have
been made January Is, strangely has
not been made public and ii is de-
clared thai there is some doubt that
it will be submitted in Official form
to the allied governments in the i'm
mediate future In the meantime,
however, the action of the allies has
fired renewed opposition in France to
withdrawal of remaining forces on
the Rhine. The Nationalistic ele-
ments headed by Poincare have been
| building up tremendouc sympathetic
barriers against Herriot's temporiz-
ing in any German situation which
savors of renewed efforts for military
conquest directed against France.
In any European country a premier
has a difficult time in keeping his
foreign policy in touch with domestic
political tides flowing from every
conceivable direction, and this is par
ticularly true of Herriot. While
beset with the German question,
tangible or intangible as it may be,
domestic issues have pressed. and
to counteract the effect of his enc
mics blows Herriot has been forced
to temporize and modify the clear
cut and emphatic policy clung to
early in his regime, which was be-
lieved by every one to insure definite
progress and relegation of all those
things destined to fan, not quench,
the fiery nationalistic hatreds run
ming between the French and the
Germans.
Adopts Nationalist Cry.
During the course of a speech in
the Chamber of Deputies Premier
Herriot gave utterances to a policy
which has been enunCiated by the
Nationalists, even from the days of
the Paris peace conference. He an