Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-26
British Closely Watching
NewfrenchD Developments
BY A. G. GARDINER.


LONDON. April 25.-Ths imminent
election Of q new President of the
French Republic was a subject Of un.
usual interest to English political circles
this week, In view Of the extreme dis
quiet that prevails in regard to tina
tendencies Of French policy and the
tate OF Artstide BRAND, who Is the only
conspicuous French statesman with o
European outlook.
that the uncertainty as to the NEXT
President was one Of the principal
causes OF the attitude Of the French
government and press toward the
Ffanco-1taltanu naval treaty, the Austro.
German customs union and the forth.
coming visit Of the German chancellor
and foreign minister to London. This
attitude Is causing great concern to the
British ministers, who realize that the
prospects Of the 1892 Disarmament
Conference are In serious jeopardy IL
the mood Of France fails to undergo
radical change.
= + y
Arthur Henderson, foreign secretary.
Is warned of the danger and futtlity az
yielding to the hysteria of the Parix
press by a remarkable article IN the
Week End Review, which represents the
modsrate opinion OF the country. It
the French policy to European peace.
is says that France, ever since the war,
mas missed few opportunities of pro-
Vok1ng the German militarists and dis
couragtng the German pacifists.
Every British advance toward closer
cooperation with the continent has
been greeted with unreasonable parics
regarding the warlike intentions OF
frances neighboIS and with new de-
mandS for promises Of assistance against
possible aggression that have stultified
every approach to European disarma-
ment and cooperation The policy OF
attempting to convert the articles OF
the treaty of<Versailles into the iron
bars OF prison, in which Germany a
70 be forever 1ncarcerated, Is denounced
as q folly which Is repudiated by
British opinion and which. If persisted
In, must lead ultimately to another
European war.
The frenzied campaign Of Paris
against the Austro-0 German customs
union Is eliminating In an astonishing
about-face In regard to the Franco
ttanan compromise and Is calculated to
destroy the agreement with Italy, wreck
the London naval treaty and, inciden-
tally' sabotage the disarmament confer
ence In advance.
Henderson Is urged not to repeat the
mistake made when the French, by q
marrow, one-sided Interpretation of the
treaty OF Versailles, were allowed to
take matters IN their own hands and
occupy the Ruhr That disaster put
the clock OF Europe back 10 years, and
II similar mistake Is made now, the
consequences will be irrevocable and all
hopes OF disarmament abandoned.
y = r.
Henderson, Y1aa<3p ~ ns.x,~.-~~ - A.
present critical position and his pro-
found disappointment at the threatened
breakdown Of the Franco Italian agree
ment, which he engineered, Is wen
known. His patience Is q conspicuous
feature Of his character and he hopes
the coming meeting Of the League Of
Nations Council will clear the sky. But
he Is firm as well as patient and has the
backing Of his party, which has long
since wearied Of the inexhaustible fer
tility of the French in defeating every
movement toward the paciflcation OF
Europe and the fulf1llment Of the dis
armament provisions OF the treaty OF
Versailles.
If the French policy continues to be
impossible, Henderson is quite capable
Of taking the only alternative course
open to him. That course Is Indicated
in the closing passage Of the Reviews
article: 1T is true that there can be
little progress In Europe without the CO.
operation Of France, especially now that
there is more gold In the vaults Of the
Paris banks than anywhere else in the
world except New York. But the de.
sire to conciliate the French govern
ment should not lead us to deny the
only principles upon which peace can be
quilt. Attempts to conciliate have failed
and the time Is coming when even our
IN YaM ~ mNtRQ
giving the lead In dynamic policy Of
peace. France might hesitate to follow,
but other nations would not"
In word, II France will not CO.
operate, France viii be isolated.
(Copyright. 1879