FRANCE'S POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 279, 23 November 1921, Page 4

FRANCE'S POSITION.

In a plain-spoken, forcible and eloquent speech at the Washington Conference, the Premier of France put France's position before the world. France stands beeide a Germany that is beaten, but may rise again. What guarantee has Frajieo that if Germany marches westward again, France's former frionda will come to her aid? France is asked to cut down her army. She ia prepared to do so, says M. Briand, to hhe extent of halving the term of miltary service, but to do more without guarantees is impossible. To appreciate France's position one must remember what happened at the Peace Conference. France demanded that the Western German frontier should be the Rhine, and that a ■buffer State should be created. Britain and the United States objected, and ■offered a military guarantee in case Germany made an unprovoked attack. This compromise, plus tho plan of occupation and gradual withdrawal from Gorman territory, was ultimately adopted, and the Anglo-American promise was embodied in two agreements printed as annexes to the Peace Treaty. Unfortunately the United States has refused to ratify its part of the tripartite agreement, and Britain takes tho line that without American ratification the Anglo-French agreement is null and void. France, then, sees an uncertain future. Germany's population will always be greater than hers, and some day Germany may seek revenge. If Germany does, she will strike quicklyThe League of Nations might ultimately intervene with cruahiuir j>fToot, but it is a slow-moving body. There remains the necessity to be ready for the possible danger. It is no wonder M. Briand'* •-tatement impressed the Conference. Speaking on behalf of Ilritain, Mr. Balfour gave a sort of promise that France would not bo loft in the lurch. Mr. TTutriies. the chief spokesman of the United States, declared that France's ease should be met "to the utmost prnctical extent." Unfortunately Mr. ! Hughes has to deal with n Congress and a popular opinion strongly opposed to "ontancling alliances." The policies nf the United States aro becoming more and moro difficult to reconcile. The Kβi publicans won the last election on the broad cry of isolation, but no sooner : had they movod into office than they found that isolation wei impossible, and j now their chiefs are directing an international conference on disarmament and ■peace. France's position cannot be brushed aside with words. One may not a<rreo with everything her Government ha* done since the Armistice. Ono may think that a more conciliatory policy at times would have boon tho higher wisdom, that more might have been done to strengthen those element* in Germany which M. Briand admits stand for peace. One may feel disturbed at to-day's renort that, the. French delegates at Washington are demanding a strong navy for France, which would seem to he imnoasible of achievement together with the maintenance of a powerful army. But the broad consideration of France's landward danger remains. p.nd tho other Powers must face it in framiuir their plans for the maintenance of world peaop.