The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-01
FRANCE FACES
CHALLENGE BY
GREAT BRITAIN
London Ready to Demand
Showdown, at Farley
Over Weekend.
POLICIES AROUSE IRE
Paris Must Show Desire to
Cooperate or Entente
CordiaIe Will End.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
scriDps-HOward Foreign Editor

WASHINGTON, April /. -
Having staged a miraculous, though
partial, recovery from the tailspin
into which she appeared to have
gone year ago, Great Britain is
seen here as planning for an early
showdown with France.
over the weekend, at London.
Premier Andre Tardieu Of France,
and Premier Ramsay Macdonald of
Great Britain, together with their
cabinet associates, will gather for a
conference.
just exactly what they will talk
about has not been stated definitely.
A Danubian customs union probably
will be discussed. Preparations and
war debts will be mentioned. The
economic plight of Europe will form
2 background.
But the belief is that in a diplo-
matte manner Britain will let
France know that unless she,
France, shows greater willingness to
cooperate, the entente cordiale
which has existed for years be-
tween the two countries will be off.
Britain to Cali France
1t is not a question of strained
relations or i'll will. Britain and
France still are on good terms. But
French influence has grown to al
most dominant proportions in the
last two or three years, while Brit
aims has waned. At times French
policy has ridden roughShod over
the British. Now Britain is said to
be about ready for an understand
ing.
1t long has been traditional Brit
ish policy never to permit any one
nation, or group of nations, across
the English channel, to become too
strong-if she could prevent it. Her
own safety, she has felt, was at
stake. She generally has acted,
therefore, as a sort of balance Of
power to maintain the European
equilibrium.
When Russia and France opposed
her in Egypt and elsewhere, Brit
ain sided with Germany and the
triple alliance. Later, when Ger
many was seen as bidding suprem-
acy in Europe, Britain joined hands
with France. She formed the en-
tante cordiale. and made up to Rus
n Frances ally.
France in Saddle
Today. France is hailed as the
dominant power of Europe. She has
the largest army, the most powerful
air force, and more gold in her
treasury than all the other coun-
tries Of Europe combined, Great
Britain included.
In the last twelve months, Britain
has found France rather diSinclined
to play the European game with
her. When Austria, for example,
was about to go bankrupt and
Britain proposed her rescue, France
opposed a loan unless and until
Austria made certain political
promises.
Austria refused and would have
gone on the rocks but for England
Whereupon, France got back at
England by Withdrawing gold.
At the Geneva arms conference,
Britain sees France as unreason-
able; also on the matter of Ger
man reparationS and in various
other directions. France, in British
opinion, is too inclined to try to
dominate the whole financial, polit-
lcal, economic, and military situa-
ton OF Europe alone.
Now, 1t is believed, Britain is
about to talk turkey. For a long
time she was not in position to do
so. Her budget was out of balance
and the future seemed dark. Peo-
pie were saying that she was
through.
Britain TO Take Hand
Now with her budget balanced
expenses cut and for the moment
apparently out of harms reach. so
lar as France is concerned. She is
seen as back once more in the Eu-
ropean poker game. When the
cards are dealt again, hand must
be dealt to her and that hand she
intends to play in the old way.
II France, backed by her allies
OF the little entente and Poland.
ignore Britain, Britain soon may be
FOUND lined up with Germany, Italy
ana Germany's former allies. II
rance will listen to reason and will
cooperate with Britain, well and
good.
IL Is believed that such will be
the DRIFT Of the weekend converse
tons at London between British and