Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
LAVAL VISIT PROMISES
LITTLE IMMEDIATE GOOD
Premier to Receive Cordial Welcome. but
No Encouragement on Security Plan.
BIZ Not Likely to Breach Debts.

to accomplish over here are circum-
scribed by irremovable limitations
which are believed to be as we'll known
to the French government and people
as they are in Washington. M. Laval,
therefore, 1t is felt in responsible Amer
lean quarters, will come with his eyes
wide open, his feet on the ground and
without any illusions as to what he
can achieve
France has one, all-obsessing, inces-
SAINT and paramount objective. 1t is
epitomized in what she calls security.
Her entire political and economic
policy is based on security. Since the
World War she has been making
alliances in all directions for security
purposes. To that end she has har-
messed Poland to her European chariot
on the east and the Little Entente
(Rumania, CzechoSlovakia and Jugo-
slavia) In the middle Of the Continent
Systematically, in recent times, and
more particularly this year, France has
used her great hoard Of gold to ce-
ment her political and military posi-
ton in Europe. She has even brought
proud Great Britain under tribute to
her during the past few weeks.
Position Practically Safe.
BY pursuing steady, relentless Sc
curity policy of her own, apart from
such protection as she derives from the
League of Nations, the Locarno pact
and the Kellogg anti-war treaty, France
today looks upon herself as practically
in impregnable position. In addition to
all these external bulwarks she has a
great army, a supreme air fleet and a
substantial naval establishment. The
French know that without their con-
sent there can be no disarmament in
ElirnY1p ic mi n
rather, to reduce her armaments-at a
price. The price is no secret. 1t was
published to the world, through the
League of Nations, within the past few
weeks. France will not consider dis
armament until the rest of the world is
ready to give her something to take the
place of her big war machine. She
Will not surrender her present security,
in other words, except for security in
Is guarantee that If France is ever at
tackled, as she was attacked in 1914,
she can rely on powerful outside aid to
repel and crush the aggressor.
M. Laval can hardly in any coHceiv-
able circumstances avoid stating the
French position when he is m Wash
ington. If and when he does, he will
be told, as firmly as the dictates of po-
likeness to the stranger within the gate
permit. that American public sentiment
is opposed to security guarantees such
as the French have in mind. He will
discover a complete lack OF enthusiasm
even for so-called consultative pact
an agreement whereby the United
States would be pledged at least to
confer with France in the event she
were threatened with an aggressive
war. When the consultative pact was
preached to the American delegation at
the London Naval Conference it was
made plain to Mr.. Tardieu, M. BRAND
and other French statesmen that the
United States could not and would not
let itself in for any such blank check"
arrangement. No signs point to any
change Of responsible opinion on that
score in Washington.
War Debt Question.
It will surprise his American hosts II
the French premier raises the question
of war-debt cancellation or revision
With hundreds of millions of dollars on
deposit in banks all over the world Gin
Guiding, it is said, about $3.50, 900, 900 in
this country, France is not in very
consistent position to make "a poor
mouth" Washington thinks there is
nothing further from M. Laval's mind
than propositions of that kind. 1t goes
without saying that the whole question
of separations and intergovernmental
debt payments, as comprehended by
the Hoover moratorium, will be dis
cussed between the premier and United
States Government officials Unless in
the meantime there is radical change in
the administrations policy, M, Laval
will learn that this country has no in
tention in the measurable future Of pro-
posing any extension Of the one-year
moratorium granted to Germany last
June and by this Government to its
debtors for the same period. That is
not saying that Washington considers
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