Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-26
PARIS PEACE R|VEN
BY vEX|NG ISSUES
r.
Year Terminating Gives EW.
dence of IndeSCribabIe In
ternationaI Agitation.
BY GERVILLE REACHE.


By RADIO 10 The Star.
PARIS, December 25.-Christmas,
1925, is not bringing in a stocking of
peace and tranquility for France. The
year is terminating in Paris in state
of indescribable agitation.
Somebody asked recently what were
the positive results of the Poincare
ministry. There are at least two.
First, the financial question has been
separated from politics and The budget
has been voted without difficulty. The
treasury and the Bank of France have
a defense fund at their disposal of
about 100000, 900. Second, the franc
is at cents.
But for how long? Nobody knows.
The real authors Of the francs rise
have not been discovered in Paris, nor
among the spectators who this week
again tried to revalorize the franc at
O rate above cents, which the
trea sury and the Bank of France to-
gether are defending.
Interallied Debts Disturb.
1t Is obvious that If Parliament
shortly ratified the interallied debt
agreements. the French government
would be absolute master of it's cur
rency and could stabilize it. But the
HdInDeT Oh the Udy VIII llOt
bring up this question in January.
Neither the manifestation of the 40
intellectuals of Columbia University
nor the answer made by the Ameri-
can administration has influenced
Premier Poincare's temporiZing tao
tics. Is he awaiting a suitable occa-
sion to get the agreements suddenly
voted as was the budget? Or is he
postponing the matter for his sue
cessor? Nobody knows. Perhaps not
even NJ. Poincare himself. He will not
decide until later when the ministry
is f1rmer and not when facts are
known. For instance, the result of
the senatorial elections, the next
president of the Chamber. the atti-
tude of the different parties after the
Chambers reopening on January IL
and, finally, the evolution of interna
tional politics, which is becoming
complicated throughout the world.
u. S. Attitude Fails to Simplify.
The American administrator atti-
tude does not simplify European prob
lens. The announcement by the
United States of a program for 10
cruisers of 10000 tons to be put into
service four years hence, the decision
not to ratify The Hague court proto-
col, the postponement of the confer
ence charged with the codifying of in
ternational lawn short, all the proofs
which the American administration
pretends to give Of its detachment
from European affairs in reality ag-
gravate the struggle in the crab bas-
ket which is postwar Europe.
Great Britain will try to push on the
until 1928, with fresh enthusiasm for
the purpose of curbing Americas ma
val ornaments.
AS to Germany, she is terribly angry
about the Landau verdict. She in
terprets disarmament as exclusively
Frances and Polands business, while
1t is not yet understood in Paris how
the Reich has been able to modernize
the old KeenigSberg trenches to depths
of 40 kilometers without the knowl-
edge of the Berlin control commission.
Italy's Navy Budget Mounts.
Regarding Italy, she is devoting
relatively larger amount in her budget
for naval armament than any other
country.
1t is sure that the United States has
had this year, and will have in 1927,
If she desires, large part to play in
the universe toward bringing Europe
toward permanent peace. But 1t Is not
enough that some COlumDla pfOieSSoTS
realize this. 1t is not enough, either,
to threaten splendid isolation.
To play such a part, the United
States should have a larger number
of representatives at les disposition in
touch with every detail in the Euro
pean economic, financial and diplo-
matte situation, and these representa-
fives should not hesitate to intervene
precisely and coherently to encourage
everybody of good will In seeking to
reestablish harmony. among the peo-
pies of the old continent.
IF, besides Foreign Ministers Strese
mann, BRAND and Chamberlain, there
had been authorized American repre-
sentatives to uphold vigorously the
Locarno policy, Stresemann would not
be anxious about the future, BRAND
would not be looking for q majority
among the ironical chances of his own
colleagues, and Mr.. Baldwin would
not be wondering how. with budget
deficit, he Is going to peet the menace
of Americas ten new Cruisers.
Let America realize, for heavens
sake, what good use she can make of
her present power and ask herself
Gains question, Am 1 my brothers
keeper"
Copyright. 1920