The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1927. FRENCH SUSPICION OF GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19787, 10 March 1927, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1927. FRENCH SUSPICION OF GERMANY

The new French National Defence Bill which the Government is asking the Chamber of Deputies to pass into law strikingly illustrates the extent of France’s fear of Germany and her appehension that, despite the provisions of the peace treaty, her neighbour will find some way of embarking upon a war of revenge. Germany has consistently endeavoured to evade her treaty obligations—to-day’s cables mention a statement at the League of Nations meeting that German disarmament is still incomplete. French suspicion has, therefore, evidently prompted the proposed measure to be ready for any emergency that may arise.

It is proposed that, on the moment of an outbreak of war, France shall immediately become a huge war machine. Private rights shall automatically and instantly cease. Everything in trade, industry and social life shall pass under control and administration of the Government. War-time contracts and wartime profits for individuals shall disappear; the State shall carry out all undertakings and, if these provide any profits, the State shall take them. The State shall be the unit; the individual shall not count. Regarded simply as a war policy, such an organisation is the most logical one and, rightly directed, should be the most efficient. For that matter, it is on similar lines to the organisation both of France and Britain during the war; it merely carries it a step further.

As to France’s doubts of Germany’s bona fides, the former’s past experience of her neighbour, extending over hundreds of years, must not be forgotten. The French people cannot bring themselves to believe that Germany means them other than ill, and recent events in the Fatherland have simply stiffened them in their suspicions. France remains in occupation of the Rhineland because Germany has dodged disarming in all possible ways. The German Government may profess friendship, but the German monarchists and junkers still go about in uniform, hold parades, rattle the sabre, and spout war talk.