At present not one of the Allied Governments shows signs
of abating its claim. Yet a failure to secure agreement would amount to a national selfishness such as would make the smooth working of the League of Nations impossible. Since by common consent the great advance of France as an industrial Power is largely due to her opportunities in- modernizing her plant and equipment through reconstruction, we look to her to make the first " ges ture " that will ease the settlement. The Press omens, however, are anything but propitious. We can only rub our eyes when we read in the Journal des De bats a censure on the experts " for going about their business in the accommodating spirit of business men and thereby forgetting that they are Allies." Surely all talk of the Allies " imposing their will " is years out of date.
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