Evening star., 1925-06-07

Continued from First Page.)
plode, why, the more terrific the ex-
plosion the greater the danger to
Britain.
Then, again. the German gives the
Briton a good deal of trouble, too,
because just at the moment when
France was at least half willing to
listen to German proposals in the
matter of security. Germany went off
and elected Hindenburg president to
the tune of Deutschland uber
Allies" Whereupon the Frenchman
took alarm. Herriot, who might
have traded, went out. and BRAND,
who has different ideas, came into
power as foreign minister.
All of that. however, is by the way.
What is essential to perceive is that
British policy has tabled on the idea
that TO keep peace in Europe the
treaty of Versailles must be revised
in Germany's favor as to the terri
tcrial clauses, but that any attempt
at revision by force in the west would
menace Britain; therefore the revi-
sion must be confined to the east
and south. Such revision, however,
would lead to the same thing If
France guaranteed the frontiers of
Poland and Czechoslovakia and for
bade the union of Austria with the
Reich.
France Wants Polish Allies.
The British are perfectly willing
that million of Poles in the east
should be put back under German
rule, which was notoriously harsh;
that Poland be denied all access to
the sea, If this concession will con-
tribute to persuading Germany to
keep the peace in the west of Europe
The French are perfectly willing that
two millions of Germans in East
Prussia should be cut off from con-
tact with sixty millions in the Reich,
provided this severance gives France
a. strong Polish ally against Germany.
The Englishman talks much of the
injustice done to Germany by this
session, the Frenchman talks equal
~ about the justice done to Poland
by restoring what was hers originally
and giving her contact with the open
sea. Both propagandas are alluring,
and both are equally without funda-
mental sincerity. But what is of ut
most interest and Importance now is,
which of the two conceptions will
prevail? Will Britain persuade France
or will France drag Britain after her?
To persuade the French the British
lldN6 T6SOuTCeS. r 10 lIIl-
prove and strengthen their own guar
antee of French security; this is the
most important. Second, to deal with
the French with extreme generosity
in the matter of the French debt.
Third, to persuade the Germans to
make further concessions, chiefly in
the matter of the economic treaty
now being negotiated between France
and Germany, the most important de-
tail in which must be the obtaining
of German market for the French
iron produced in Alsace-Lorraine.
Had Marx beaten Hindenburg, my
guess Is that the British would have
persuaded the French to deal with
the Germans in thhe matter of the
guarantee, for the mass of the French
people are passionately eager for
peace and for some visible under
standing with Germany. Even now
there Is still a fair chance, although
the work will be more difficult and
British promises will have to be
stronger. Moreover, If the bargain
Is made, / believe the British are
right in saying that we shall have 80
years of peace in the west of Europe;
that is. among the great powers,
Russia excepted. Whether the
French are right as to the increased
dangers at the end of 80 years Is
another question.
But If the British fail. il France