Evening star., 1925-02-08
Seeing Continental Dangers,
Pledges Security Pact to Aid Peace

promised France that she shall have a
security pact indorsed by England.
Several proposals have been made.
but in the background of all is the
tacit consent of France to abandon
ambitions of Poincare and Foch and
others of the militarist school in
France in regard to perpetuation of
the Ruhr. England realizes that
France must give up pretentions in
this direction If there ever is to be any
degree of concord between Germany
and France
According to advices received in
Washington, the proposed security
pact would be between England,
France and Belgium, with possible in
clusion of Germany. The French are
not yet ready to consider Germany in
such arrangement, not being satisfied
with the condition Germany has laid
down in regard to joining the League
of Nations. Likewise the government
is not yet ready, for local political
reasons, to surrender all pretentions in
the Rhineland. but it is confidently be-
lieved that If England presses the is
sue France reasonably will be content
and foster arrangements which would
provide her security. One thing is
certain. If France should prevent the
formulation of any such pact at this
juncture, her sincerity in regard to in
tentions on the Rhine would remain
forever in question.
Security is near and dear to the
heart of France, which has suffered
grievously because Of unwanted ag-
gression in decades past, and IL is be-
lieved that should the premiers of the
four nations get together something
r1ieyhf q achieved that would satisfy
all and promote the general settle
ments so necessary to continued peace
and order throughout Europe.
Justification Of Pacts.
One of the questions Immediately
arising in connection with the British
policy in regard to a security pact Is
that as to how the British home office
can justify security pacts with the OPP
position in the dominions: This is an
swered by the purported British in
tent not to embrace the colonial pos
sessions in such pact. In the mean
time, it is declared that the British
government will not further oppose a
modified League of Nations protocol
at Geneva. The protocol is very much
desired by France. but it is believed
that If Britain can give further life
to the aspirations of the league, modi-
fy the protocol to such extent as to
satisfy her dominions and then pledge
France such aid as may be necessary
to give her security, the problem can
be surmounted. France would be sat
isfied, II is believed, to surrender pre-
tentions in regard to the Rhine in case
of a British, Belgian and French ac-
cord on the question of security
Should Germany stand firm behind the
protestations of Chancellor Luther
and commit herself to such pact, then
it is believed the political atmosphere
will be much more conducive to settle
ment of further differences, and some
serious attempt to perfect very essen
tial financial and economic arrange
ments will be made.
For some weeks there have been re-
ports that Germany would approach
France with a plan to bring a guaran-
tee treaty to pass. but the French are
suspicious of any such arrangement
with Germany alone, they citing Ger
many's readiness to tear up treaties
and proceed along nationalistic lines
during the World War. England, be-
lieving somewhat in the sincerity of
Germanic protestations of desire for
peace, has leaped into the breach and
her craftsmanship yet may steer all
nations clear of the momentary dan
gers.