Evening star., 1928-04-21

- Z : ss-sa : = Z aeS.y
snsue. This conference viii seemingly
se held III Washington. The foreign
selegates would be the local Ambas-
ladors Of the five powers. while the
United States would be represented by
as Secretary OF State.
The period Of dual negotiations lust
snded has unfortunately been inarred
5v Misunderstanding and annoyances
The French feel that they have made
tgery possible concession to the Amer
lean viewpoint without the slightest
reciprocity. They were somewhat hurt
when the United States rejected their
original proposal Of a dual pact They
agreed TO nultiIateTal pact If we could
rse the term. aggressive war" instead
bf merely war in general. We refused.
France dropped her ingistence on the
term aggressive war" and agreed 70
outlaw war in general provided the right
Of legitimate defense vas Safeguarded
III all the countries included, and
Frances obligations under the league
covenant and the Locarno treaties were
ksfegusFded and Il was fully understood
that in case any one hereafter resorts
to war, al the others regain freedom
Of action.
There vas astonishment IN Paris
when il vas found that the United
States in is latest draft took no more
notice Of the French viewpoint than il
the dual negotiations had never oc-
CURED. This fact reawakened certain
suspicious and misunderstanding which
had existed from the beginning in
France and elsewhere regarding the
zeal aims Of the United States Were
We not trying cuaningly 10 undermine
the League of Nations and L0carno by
making ii impossible for any one 10 help
the victim IN case of var?
French Show Desire for Pact.
The French draft bears traces of this
preoccupafiou but the fact that II Is
not accompanied by aTgumentatiye teZt
festsgleS 70 strong self-contTol and q
genuine desire 70 reach an agreement
IN lige informal FrancO-knerlcan con-
wergagAons tsgss agreement seemed near
. We point out that every one naturally
retains the right 20 legitimate self de-
feFse We are ready 20 acngit ali couu-
tries 10 the pact after the princlpa
powers rstlfY H. We think it Is obvious
that al regain freedom n action II ans
one goes ~ war
But We decline 10 put that tn writing
lest exceptions tend 70 outweigh the
rule ard 8aF " more emphaslzeh thar
peace
The divergence seems 10 be partly
Psychological. The French az 4 people
believe lEi putting things IN writing We
follow t0e ubages and presidents 0t
coEuns0n Law, b4t the French are heirs
of tlae Roman l8s with .ts written
coGe
II zoB are going 70 forbid war under
~ circumstances. they say, "then
saake arbitration eomplele and obliga.
Tzsg With 10 uAe of force and ~
-~--tigat0fy Arbitration. many disputes
R.aI not De settled and permanent in,
leFnatAonal disorder Bl4 be encouraged
Fear for Alliances.
But 81 the DotJym III the eontroyefs
Les apparently the French fear tia
the American Dlaa may tend ~ parajyZ
tfaF system oa defensive alliances an
security paelE which has been the car
0insi aim of French polley to the las
few years, afG prevent adoption of nel
Lf5eafDaa in tie danger n0neS Of easter
sud s.altnerH Europe
We Hant ~ maintain peace by max
ing Xaf illegal The French want /
maintain peace by demonstrating IN 40
vance 10 Il possible aggfessDF that II
lgg1gsc ~ lOAe because IL would have
lgat the Whole world
DESPITE these divergent viewpoint
q common text probably viii he eYolyes
Japan afid Iislg probably VIII niag Se6
ondaFy roles Germany, which distrusi
Tie French system 0f alliances viii SUP
G0Ft 0al4 draft The key ~ The c0ufef
enee vii seemingly be tl1e altitude 4
Great Britain Everything indicates thE
the British statesmen are already fee
ing osA tie ground fof suitable CON
i sf4t~