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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (June 17, 1923)
France Now in German Role in War of 1871 i People Solidly Behind De mand for Reparations But Not Militaristic—Ig norant of Facts. By MARK SULLIVAN. London, June 16.—When I am cab ling from Paris I* fail into the way— or at least I did before I learned to avoid it—of saying "the French,” in a sense in which, when the average person at home in America reads the dispatch, is seriously misleading. I talk, let us say, to a French authority, and he tells n:e that the official Intention of the present French government is—to take a hypothetical example — to oppose America’s efforts for the reduction of armament. Thereupon I say—and most other writers do the same—that “France will oppose limitation of armament." Yet. in truth, the fact may be that the hulk of the French people may dislike conscription ns heartily as Americans do. But, being without Information, the French people feel obliged to follow their government— although, in fact, they may he, and often are, far from having complete faith in it. Meantime the American reader has pictured the 40,000,000 French people as being militarists. Difference In Meaning. This sort of thing happens a dozen times every day. We used to say “Germany,” or “the Germans,” was doing this, that or the other, where as, in fact, it was the kaiser. And right now, every week, it happens that something Important occurs in the relations between France and Britain. We newspaper writers say that "France” or “the French" did this and "Britain” or "the British” did the other. Whereas, in truth, not more than a few people in each country had any connection with it or any knowledge of it until after it had happened. The separation in European coun tries between the people and who ever at the time happen to compose the government is greater than can be realized by the average Ameri cans, because in our Country the ad ministration is aware of the"constitu tional checks upon it, and, also, the knowledge of public affairs is infinite ly more widespread among our people. Individual Acta. At the Paris conference, and be fore it anil since it, a good many things which have puzzled and given deep concern to the American people have been done In the name of "France" or “the French," whereas, In fact, they were done by one indi vidual or, at most, a few individuals, chiefly Parisians, or, at least, with the merely Parisian point of view. Those actions in maay cases, are as far as possible from what the 40,000, 000 French people would say or do or feel If they had the opportunity of expression and the information on which to base their Judgment or their amotion. The French government at Faria is one thing, and frequently the simple, sturdy, sensible people of France, scattered on a million farms and in thousands of provincial vil lages and cities, are another thing. * Now, one should avoid causing an Incorrect inference. As regards the one large aspect of French policy which is now to the front, namely, reparations, there is no material dis crepancy between the attitude of the French government, and that of the French people. At least, there is no discrepancy on the fundamental ques Omahans on Pilgrimage to Abode of Ancestors Thomas R. Porter, 3324 Davenport street, special newspaper writer, wijh his wife and the heir apparent to th« Porter name and fortunes, has gone east on a pilgrimage to the abiding place of his ancestors in Plymouth, Mass. Porter, Jr., has now attained the age of 4, and his father decreed that the time had come to observe a long established family custom of rocking the youngster in the family cradle brought over by Ancestor Dr. Samuel Fuller about 1623. Won’t Allow Risk. Not only will Mr. Porter lay his son In the historic cradle, but he declares he himself will be rocked In It if this is at all possible. Judging by the picture, Mr, Porter will have some difficulty In placing his 240 pounds in the cradle. Besides, Miss Alice Noyes of New Haven, Conn., the present owner, and the Pilgrim So ciety of Plymouth, present custodian, will not allow Mr. Porter to put the cradle to the perilous test. The cradle is kept In a plats glass case in the fireproof structure of the Pilgrim society and will be removed from the case at Mr. Porter’s re quest. It js still in excellent shape and bears testimony to the wealth and importance of Dr. Fuller in his day nnd generayon. First Physician. Age has turned the wood a mellow, brownish color, nnd there are mnides of wear left by its former occupants. Antique nails, hand-made, hold It to gether in some places, while wooden pegs are used in other parts. The turned post-tops and spindles and the ornamental canopy bear witness to the importance of the Fuller family. Dr Samuel Fuller was the first physician to come to New England to live. Shortly before coming, he mar ried his third wife, Bridget Lee. Shortly thereafter, in 1920, he sailed for America with the Pilgrims, leav ing his wife behind. She came over in 1623. Upon the arrival of the Porter par ty, the dust-proof glass C(*se will be opened by skilled workmen and the cradle will be set out for the cere many. tion that Germany should pay—what ever the French people might think of some of the angles and complexi ties of that altuation which are in troduced into it by some French busi ness Interests, some French politi cians and some French militirlsts. Peasant Remembers. The French people want Germany to pay. They want that money. They have no Information about the amount, no statistics about the cost of restoring devastated France or about the capacity of Germany to pay. To the French peasant all that la astronomical. But what the French peasant does lfnow and remember— remembers as only a simple people can remember who tell old stories by the fireside and pass ancient tales down from father to son; a people who don’t read neWspapers or go to the movies, whose whole dramatic emotion la fed by fireside tales of their own experiences—what Is re membered by the French peasant Is that In 1871 Germany made France pay. Germany, on the occasion when It was conqueror and had France down, named a sum it suited It to exact, named It without tiny argu ment, and kept Its army In France until the French people dug the en tire aura out of Its stockings and paid It. That la what ths French people remember. That Is why they now stand solidly behind their govern ment In the demand that Germany should pay. On the plea that It la necesaary to make Germany pay the French government can get Its peo ple to support practically any meas ure that the government says Is necessary. Don't Know- Facts. But on another aspect of the policy of the present French government there might be a good deal less una nimity of support from the Jfrench people If the people had access to all the facts. The French government tells the French people that Germany is still a menace, that the Germans may any day come swarming over the border again. On that plea the French gov ernment can frighten the French peo ple into enduring conscription and standing tip to the enormous taxntlon necessary to maintain France's im mense army, tvhen the French gov ernment (although it says It can't pay the Interest on the debt due to ua In America) loans f20,000.000 to Poland, In order to enable Poland to buy artil lery from the French munition manu facturers—which, In turn is explained on the ground that it is necessary to keep the French cannon factories go ing—when the French government does that, It is accepted by the French people as one detail of the necessity of defense against a Germany that piay fight again tomorrow. Another Cycle. Again, the Frenrh government spends some hundreds of millions of francs on establishing and maintain ing air armament. It is so large, so out of proportion, that It alarms □PDIIlif P RIIDUnDN PALMER CHIROPRACTOR rnANR r. 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No. 8 alie, apeclal.94.99 No. 9 alie, apeclal.9ft. 19 Crystal White Soap Beat aoap made for waahln* In the laundry; Monday, 1 caao (100 bars), for...94.69 Rogers Pipe Solvent Keep odor* out by keeping drain pipe* clean. Monday, very apeclal, 8 can* for.946 Squeez-Ezy Mop $1.06 Self-wrlnifintf, eaay to uae, can replace inop when worn out, apeclal.91.09 These are remark I able values. You won't want to miss this remarkable sale. There are items here priced lower than ever before. You can’t afford to miss this opportunity. Wash Boards Gllaaa. braaa or alne waah boarda. Your cholca, apaclal, Monday only. 54c Let U$ Deliver AT 0414 ESTABMSHF.n 1BSS Wash Tubs 52c Regular No. 1 galvanised wash tubs. 20 Inches la diam eter. with drop handles; very special at . R2C Rijid Folding Ironing Board $2.89 Oenulna Rijid Ironing Board; vary rigid, with good clear board; Monday .Sit.89 Clothes Prop 23c 8-foot props, made of selected wood; Monday, only.23£ Clothes Baskets $1.09 Made of good willow wllh heavy braided top edge. No. 1 alt*, special .... No. t alas, special.... No. 1 alia, spatial.... Milton Pogers AND SONS COMPANY / Hardware Household Utilities 1515 HARNEY ST. Great Britain. Thereupon Britain feels compelled to have as large an air fleet as France has. Britain hates to spend tne money. She Is .already enduring an annual taxation which amounts to nearly $100 a year for every man. woman, child and baby In the country—say, $500 a family. Britain feels It Is especially unfair to force her to this nditlonal expendi ture when she is paying her debt to the United States and France Is not—France is building her air fleet with money she ought to be paying to America. But Britain must spend the money, because France sets the pace. Britain doesn’t like to say that this intense air force Is a military menace to England. Britain doesn't like to assume that France would attaca her. But the pnssessloji offso superior a force creates In the French govern ment a psychology that may at any time express itself In an unreasonable arrogance In France’s diplomatic rela tions with Britain. Great Britain feels she cannot afford to let the disparity lie permanent. And so she spends the money. And, what is worse, so begins another cycle of that old vice of competitive armament —the same sort of thing which kept Britain building each year at least as many warships as Germany built. The ultimate outcome of such cycles everybody knows. French Press Explains. To the French people the French government (and the government In spired French press) explains the Im mense air force and the Immense army and the continuation of conscription when everybody else (Including the French people as distinct from the French government) Is sick of It —to the French people the French government explains nil this on the ground that Germany may fight, again tomorrow. The degree to which Germany has been rigidly disarmed by a disarmament commission com posed of her late enemies, the extent to which every haystack in Germany has been searched for concealed rifles, all that and the whole question of whether or not Germany could fight another war— all that Is a question for expert military Judgment. The French peasant and the French tax payer can't possibly know. Real French Feeling. On the question of the real feeling of France, as distinct from what Paris decrees, there is light in some ob servations by a writer In "The London Express,” who made a trip Into the typically and genuinely French coun tryside, which, In point of view and habit of thought, differs more from Paris than any other country differs from its capital. These extracts from the correspondent's observations are illuminating: "It Is between town and country populations that the difference lies deepest. More than half the whole people still live In small communities, and of the urban population probably half live In small, old-fashioned towns. "The natural resutt of th»se con ditions Is that most people In France take little Interest in poli tics from day to day. They accept more or less fatalistically whatever Is decreed for them In Paris. When great decisions are taken suddenly It is almost pathetic to aee the be wilderment with which the news law received. In the days Immediately preceding the occupation of the Ruhr I was amazed myself st being stopped by country people along the roadsides and In tittle shops here In Brittany and asked—because I was a foreigner who was known to have been In Paris not long be fore—could I assure them there was no danger of a general mobil ization. Peasant* Patriotic. "In their politics both the local papers are even more Irreconcila bly patriotic than the great Paris papers. Their Paris editors serve up the news and views that are communicated to them from official soureea each day with a patriotlo rectitude that leaves nothing to he desired. There Is no better way of watching the official attitude In Paris than to study these carefully edited bulletins In the provincial press. "On the question of the Ruhr thsy have faithfully reflected each phase of the evolution of M. Poln care’s policy- • • • And the country people . . . really be lieved what they were told and ex pected that the franc would rise at last. , . , “Yet confidence remains unshaken. Had the franc been allowed to fall, as It would naturally have fallen, the effects would have been In tensely demoralizing. Had another class been called to the colors there would have been bitter feeling among the young men, and per haps riots In some of the towns. But a class has already been de mobilized and the panic fear of mo bilization has passed* away. The franc has been brought back by government manipulation . . . The French government has done its window-dressing with skill.” V '‘French” Sick nf War. It is a frequent charge that “the French have become militaristic," that France has set out on a pompous course of setting herself up perma nently as the dominant power of Eu rope, after the manner of the Napo leons. If by "the French” Is meant the French people, the French men who do the fighting, the French fathers who see their sons con scripted. the French mothers who pro vide the “cannon fodder"—if It Is these who are meant by the loosely used phrase "the French” and “Frunce," then the charge is not true. The French people are as sick of war as the rest of us. But If It Is meant that the present French government is militaristic, or If It be meant that there Is a power ful military £lique of generals and what-not who "want to maintain the French military tradition, then thnt is another matter. Even in this re stricted sense the charge is disputed by many fi lends of the French cause. It is hard to tell. It is hard to he Just. It is hard to draw the line be tween the honest motive and the specious one. It Is not readily con ceivable that the French government or the French military leaders or the French munition manufacturers are sincere when they say—as Brland said at the Washington conference when he wanted to justify his refusal to discuss land disarmament—that Ger many might attack France again to morrow. Keally Fear Germany. At the same time, you can readily understand lHat these leaders honestly apprehend that Germany might fight again 20 years from now and might believe most earnestly that It is in dispensable Tor them to maintain the military tradition among the French people and the willingness to main tain conscription, even if it is neces sary to scare the French people with the fear that Germany may fight again tomorrow. Stimulating Poland. In any event, all talk about the word ‘■militaristic" and the whole question of motive is splitting haira The fact is that France 4s not only keeping up its army, manufactur ing munitions far beyond its needs, building an air fleet equal to all the other air forces of the world combin ed; not only Is France conscripting Its own w'hite man power, it Is arm ing the blacks of Africa in a way that causes the gravest concern to every person who has a thought about the future. Still further, the French govern ment and the French military lead ers are stimulating to follow the French example. For the armies of those little countries France ts pro viding French officers, French muni tions and French money. The other day General Foch. Inspecting the Polish army and making a triumphal tour through that country, looked upon the Polish babies in the schools and expressed gratification over the high birth rate. It Is not very elevat ing to put your imagination on what must have been In Foch’s head, the satisfied exalting over little Polish babies who twenty years from now are to provide the cannon fodder for another war, the rommcndatlon of the more simple Polish women for having the large famllfcs that French moth ers refuse to have. Also, even if the present motive of these Freneh leaders Is merely one of defense for France, everybody knows the day will come, the circumstances will arise, when that motive will be come aggressive. The psychology Dr. Emelia H. Brandt Heads Chamber Women Dr. Kinriia II. Brandt, who waa elected president of the woman'* di vision of tlie Chamber of Commerce Friday night. wljlrh come* with having a gun when no one else has one Is Inevitable. Tried to Wreck Conference. America believes powerfully in the limitation of armament. Our people hold that belief, our leaders express it. Our leaders expressed it when they called the Washington Confer ence for the Limitation of Arma ments. To that purpose the French government made not one contribu tion, either (< sympathy or act. On the contrary, the French government tried to wreck it. They nearly did wreck it entirely; they actually did prevent the disccussion of land arma ment, they actually did prevent the limitation of submarines which the others in the conference acutely wish ed for. I* or this action of the French gov ernment there was a disposition in America to express disapproval of the French p> ople, xt, express it by with drawing the aid that has been flow ing from every American village to the French per pie in the shape of alms of one wort or another. It w-ould have been unfair. It would have been penalizing babies for the acts of politicians: and yet it might have besn a good way to call the attention of the French people forcibly to what Its government is doing, to put the French people on Inquiry, to make them understand the feeling of the American people. Talk Over Heads of Government. If our people believe in the llmita t on of armament, if they support Mr. Harding and Mr. Hughes in the pur pose for which the Washington Con ference was called, if our people have their hearts In that purpose, they should stand up to Jt> One wishes there was some way to speak to the French people over the heads of their government and over the head of their government inspired press. One man, Wilson, once had the power to talk over the heads of governments to the peoples of the world, but he lost It. Lacking any singls voice like that anything the American people can do to express their disapproval of militarism will be useful and justi fied. One way will be to insist on the payment of the money France owes us. To a France that will help us In our purpose to limit armament it would be harmless and even humane and becoming to remit the debt. But to remit it to a French gov ernment that is bwnt on filling Ger many's old role of pace setter in com petitive armament would merely en able that government to go further in which we profoundly disbelieve. (<~or>n*ht, itii ) Women Spend 1 34 Years Primping Questionnaire Answered by Northwestern Coeds Shows Average Time Spent in “Beautifying” Is 45 minutes a Day. Evanston, 111 , June 9 —Women spend one and three-fourths years of their adult lives trying to keep beau tiful. That is. that’s the general average arrived at by means of a question naire submitted to the pretty and homely co eds of No'^westem un*’ versify. The pretty coeds. It was learned, spend more time primping than their less beautiful sisters. The average for the co-eds was set at 45 minutes a day. This is divided up as follows: Fifteen minutes for primping upon arising in the morning. Fifteen one minute periods during the day used In powdering and keep ing the shine down. Fifteen minutes at night before re tiring. "The latter period is shortened sometimes." one of the questionnaire replies said, "if the date lasted longer or bed time came later because of studies It's made up In the morning, however," The questionnaire wss common place enough until a mathematical shark got hold of it and figured that the 45 minutes of primping per day amounted to 273.75 hours a year, or a little over 11.40 days annually. Assuming that girls begin primping at the age of 15, and they live to the Biblical age of “three score and ten." women In their 55th year of adult life give up 16,056.25 hours, or a little more than 427.34 days, to heautlfylng themselves. Thus. the mathematical coed figured that woman spends 1 71 319 365 years at her toilet. “Is it worth it?" the questionnaire asked. “Yes." was the unanimous reply; “but we wouldn't care to do it all in one stretch." Are you reading the Brisbane column appearing daily in this paper? ^tannpn,€)d6ra & Ca Monday Only! Sale of 196 Hats l Trimmed Hats Sport Hats Straws and Fabrics In White and Colors Extremely Smart Arrivals in New Sandals A clever model equally attractive in light tan kid or gray suede with patent trim ming. Designed over the newest last, with rounded toe and covered military heel. $13.00 THE BEST PLACE TO SHOP AFTER ALL For the Tournament Cftonpon ,C>d6ra & Ca For Summer Apparel The Perfect Golf Stroke From Start to Finish To be seen on the links at the Field Club tomorrow at the Woman’s State Golf Tournament. This series of illus trations was taken from a slow mo tion movie show v ing the perfect ^ golf stroke from start to \ finish. 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