Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-14
New Program Based on Ma
tionaI Interests Solely
Forecast by Observers.
FRENCH LEADERS, PLANS
REGARDED AS FAILURE
Friends Blaming Economic Causes
for Present Crisis Predict Ulti-
mate Victory for His Views.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

. b. Cable to The Star.
PARIS, France, May 14.-Foreign
Minister Aristide Brands defeat in the
presidential elections, while due partly
to internal politics. also deeply involves
foreign policy, and consequently what
ever may be now said to the contrary
for the purpose of reassuring public
opinion abroad, it is defeat for those
: foreign policies with which M. BRANDS
name has been closely associated, and
in all probability marks a new orienta-
ton not In Frances fundamental aims,
bit in French diplomatic methods.
The left parties declare that M.
Brands defeat is defeat for the idea
Of peace and will doubtless endeavor
to spread propaganda in this sense
throughout the country in view OF next
years legislative elections. But the dis
agreement between M. BRAND and his
adversaries was never over the idea OF
peace.
France is well satisfied with its pres
ent boundaries and situation, asks only
to keep what it now has and unani-
mously views war with horror and
aversion. What M. Brands adverSaries
reproach him with is the alleged failure
of his methods. And what they pro-
pose to try now is different methods.
Backed by Most Leaders.
M. BRAND stood for peace by con-
Citation and mutual concession, espe-
cialIy all kinds of peace pacts conferred
around the League of Nations system
for the purpose Of preventing the old
- Sv1fN tNTrr q 1cff
camps. In particular, he believed that
the key to peace In Europe was in close
understanding between France and Ger
many.
For several years a majority Of French
leaders fully shared NJ. Brands views
and hopes.
The League mutual aid protocol Of
1924 failed, owing to the British veto,
but year later the Locarno treaties
were made and even British spokesman
then announced that these treaties
would be followed by other regional
M. BRAND therefore kept on propos-
ing such pacts He suggested an East
ern European Lacarno and then q
Mediterranean Locarno. But Germany
refused one and Great Britain and Italy
the other. He suggested a Franco
American pact TO outlaw war, which
dIbcIMdE0 OcLoAlC bAIC 1ACAAOE6 hC0sJs
And finally he suggested European
union, for which no great enthusiasm
has been shown elsewhere but which,
still under league auspices, Is more or
less aborning.
AS for Franco German rapproche-
nent. the climax of NJ Brands policy
&. came with the evacuation Of the Rhine
land year ago.
NJ BRAND had taught the French
a.-r - H1i<yf1-
~ significant and important step would
result in permanently friendly relations
between France and Germany.
French Amazed by Riots.
The French were therefore amazed
when riots against French synpathizers
Immediately occurred in the Rhlnelano,
French visitors were beaten and insulteo
in German towns. 1905 members OF
the steel helmet organization gathered
in the Rhine to shout war songs and
imprecations against France, President
Paul Won Hindenburg made a special
q triumphal visit to the Rhineland, Ger
many began to ring with speeches In
favor of treaty revision, the extreme
Nationalist had great success In the
German elections and in all respects
Franco German relations instead OF i'm
proving got worse.
All this hurt NJ. Brands prestige at
home, but the crowning blow was the
Austro-German customs union project.
negotiated in secret, so to speak, behind
NJ Brands back, and sprung suddenly
on the world almost as an accomplished
fact. M. Brands adversaries have since
accused him of bad Judgment and
weakness.
Neither Great Britain, Germany, italy
nor the United States want TO ALLEVIATE
their freedom of action by peace pacts,
in continuing to propose which France.
they say. merely humiliates itself. All
OF NJ Brands efforts, they say. have
not resulted in winning the real friend
ship Of a single great power On the
contrary, France by giving an impress
sion of weakness invites others, say NJ.
Brands adversaries, to increase their
demands and treat France and the
French viewpoint with less and less
respect
What they now seem TO propose to
substitute for NJ Brands methods is a
policy based solely on national interest
more for direct conversations on specific
points with specific powers.
Victory for His Views Seen.
To all this NJ Brands friends reply
that the German government and tht
British Labor government have GER
tainly done M BRAND and the cause
OF peace a great disService by their at
titude, but that this is not NJ. Brands
fault. The present crisis, they add. L
due mainly TO economic causes anc
with the return of prosperity the wis
dom of M. Brands suggestions vii
probably be acknowledged everywhere
Finally. they say. the only alternative
TO the BRAND policies is return L
La 1t n
one of the causes Of the World War
The French people. as distinguished
from the politicians, they aver. arr
stifl with NJ. BRAND
Whether or not this is so will b,
duly demonstrated in next years cleo
tions. Meanwhile the opportunity vii
seemingly be given TO M. BRAND
critics to show whether they are abb,
TO keep peace better by firm method
than M. BEiand has by conciliator.
methods.
tCopyrieht, 1917