FRENCH PREMIER'S WARNING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 199, 17 May 1919, Page 8

FRENCH PREMIER'S WARNING

GERMAN DESIGN TO RUIN FRANCE. , Now York, February 9 ,M. Clemenceau, in an interview with n correspondent of the, Associated Press in Paris, said:— . "If it is said that the war is twon, it would perhaps be more accurate to say that there is a lull in tho storm. At the very least, it is necessary to provide for all eventualities. Recent discoveries ■have enabled us to pierce tho enemy's designs to a greater extent than hitherto. They were not merely a dream of military domination on tho part of Prussia, but a definite conspiracy expressly aiming at the extermination of France. Industrially Franco is extremely difficult to reconstitute, whereas Germany has kept her factories intact and Teady to start working efficiently forthwith. Indeed, industrially and commercially, 'as between France and Prussia, tho victory, is tho latter's.' ' Financially and by reason of the "blockade, tho war debt of "Germany is almost entirely domestic and can easily be repudiated, while that of France must be paid. Tn the immediato future we shall have to pay regularly abroad Immense sums, by way of interest solely, out of our internal resources.

"Even bs regards tho military triumph of France over Germany, there are certain disquieting features.in tho situation. The Allies, havo taken over tho German Navy and in a front measure disarmed the enemy, but. Russia, certainly in a state of chaos, but fruitful all the samo, remains and from it the Germans can draw a great deal of.support With the British Army demobilised, tho American Army 'Toturned |homc, and France isolated. there might ha a danger of Germany's reopening tho dobate of .arms. This might embarrass us but for tho very heartening assurances'of President Wilson in the Chamber of Deputies. Tho League of Nations must be profoundly sustained by Hie conviction of the peoples of Franco ond America and 'by tho determination of tho latter to abandon its traditional policy of isolation. France will face all theso problems without fear mid without ronroncli. All our plans are based on the splendid foundation laid by President Wilson.