THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1919. FRENCH ANXIETIES.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15047, 15 April 1919, Page 4

THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1919. FRENCH ANXIETIES.

In an article in the "Morning. Post" a few weeks ago Colonel Repington commented, upon the uneasiness existing in France concerning the Peace Conference's proceedings in connection with her future security from the German' menace, and the fear that Britain and America, dwelling themselves in seagirt security, were apt to view the dangers of France somewhat lightly. These anxieties were marked by the proposal of M. Bourgeois to create a permanent sysiem of inspections to verify the armaments of nations in a rigorous manner, and by his further suggestion to create a second permanent organisation, in the nature of a General Staff, to prepare resistance to any fresh aggression. It was also desired by some people to create the nucleus at least of an international army which might be ready to intervene in , case of danger. These suggestions did not find favour with the League of Nations Commission, with whom Colonel Repington agrees. He says it is not necessary for' France to hypnotise herself with Germany's 75 or 80 million people, because France and Italy together have as many people, and Austria has been counted out. There are still, also, England and America, anc beyond again is the new League, which whether it heralds the millennium oi not, at all events keeps the very effiicent bond of our five Great Powers still in being. In f ac t, it does rathei more, since it involves Japan in worlc responsibilities and does not restrid her liabilities, as the Anglo-Japanese Treaty did, to, the affairs of Easteri Asia alone. Colonel Repington ■ urgei the abolition of .conscription in Europe as a large source of French security If there is no conscription all will stari fair in case of another row. It was conscription on the German side anc no conscription on the side of Englanc and America which caused the trouble The British and American people do noi like conscription, and may refuse it ii any case. If France and*ltaly hold t< conscription and the rest of Europe too, then we are gratuitously asking for 1914 to recur, whereas, if there ii no conscription, then the Anglo Americans can fly quickly to suppor France; and all the national annie: behind—a creation of the war—will b< [ ready as soon at least as Germany's It is therefore entirely to the advan tage of the present Associated Powers and of France in particular, that con : scription should cease. An inter national army is with difficulty realis able on constitutional grounds, and i would,be a great nuisance to every ; body. A dozen good sound reason | could be given against it. The plan o: M. Bourgeois to verify, the armament! of the world would imply the distrus' of the world, besides being an infrac , tion of sovereignty. The other plan o: having a League General Staff to worl out plans of campaign against eacl other, which is absurd. What th< French should notice is that all th< Allies have armies of occupation foj the transitional period until Germany fulfils the peace terms, and that if al have voluntarily enlisted armies af\er wards they will be in an excellem position.