return to the
struggle. The League of Nations is being arranged to stop warfare
among all races. France does not believe that that is practicable,
human nature being what it is. But France does see that one war of the
future can be eliminated, and that is another Franco-German struggle.

With that in view France has embarked on a real policy embodied in the
following programme:--

(1) The complete demilitarization of the German people. We will not
allow her to have an army or a navy.

(2) The dismantling of the German Empire. We would undo what Bismarck
accomplished; for in destroying the unity of Germany we should destroy
most of its power to reorganize after defeat. The dismantling of
modern Germany implies for us:

(a) Alsace and Lorraine for France.
(b) Upper Silesia for Poland.
(c) A separate State of Bavaria.
(d) A separate State of Westphalia.
(e) A Polish corridor to Dantzig, separating East and West Prussia.
(f) No union between Austria and Germany.

"France is not in favour of plebiscites, as the war was won not by a
plebiscite but by a superior number of cannon. The plebiscite was a
Wilson invention and France regards it passively. If plebiscites stand
in the way of a real policy in Europe they ought to be disregarded. As
regards questions such as that of the Ruhr Valley occupation France is
ready to take any avenue which leads to a furtherance of her
fundamental policy. The saddling of Germany with an immense indemnity
is primarily necessary in order to pay off the war debts of France and
Britain to the United States. For the rest, the indemnity debt can be
used as a check on Germany so that we can watch her."

Such is in any case France's policy. She pursues it in subterranean
ways and through intrigue and by all the old tricks of secret
diplomacy, evidently trusting no one but herself. It is unfortunate.
Much could be gained both in England and America by a clear, frank
statement.

With regard to Russia there is little of the idealistic spirit in
French policy. Her attitude towards Russia has little to do with her
attitude towards Europe as a whole. France does fear that Poland may
come to nothing, and that Germany and Russia may come into vital
contact. Otherwise Russia is a place apart. Russia is a place where
many millions of French francs have been lost. France does not
understand Russia, does not want to. France is quite sufficient for
France. But she has