The evening world., 1916-12-23
WILSON ATTACKED
BYFRENCH PAPERS
FOR WR|T|NGN NOTE
Petit Journal Says He Does
Not Remember Violation of
Belgian Neutrality.
CLEMENCEAU OBJECTS.
"Inspired by High Sentiments,
but lnopportune," Is View
Taken by the Paris Matin.

PARIS, Dec. 2s.-President wilson's
note and the statements OF Secretary
Lansing continue 10 be the sensations
of the day and take precedence OF
everything else in the morning pa
pers. The Presidents action by no
means meets with favor among the
commentators, who only vary In the
manner OF expressing their opinion.
The principal rsproach 10 In the
words OF Stephen Pichon who, writ
ing in the Petit journal. says:
The note makes no distinction be-
tween the states who provoked the
war and those upon whom 1t was
forced. Tho belligercnts. whoever
they are. SEQ themselves treated in
tho same manner by President Will
son. He does not remember either
tho violation OF Belgian neutrality,
the crimes Of tho submarine warfare
or any Of tho monstrous acts which
revolted the conscience OF his COM
patriots and that Of the civiilred
world. Gcrmany--hsr victims. Bel
CLANS. Serbians or French--it Is all
| the same.
America can appreciate this sim
gular conception as she pleases. We
should be lacking In the first Of our
duties In not holding II up as an out
rage to our honor and our dignity"
Georges Clemenceau, former Pre-
mier, in his newspaper L'Homme En-
chainc. says: Tho moral side OF the
war has escaped President Wilson.
He puts on tho same footing all OF
the belligerents without asking for
what reason each OF them Is fighting
II would seem almost blssphemous "a
hear II said that the objects seem
the same on both Sides"
Lincoln's answer to tho French and
British offers to mediate between
North and South In 1868 Is freely
quoted and analogies are drawn be.
tween tho situations then and now.
what citizen Of tho United State,
would blame US II We answered Wil'
son as Lincoln answered the media
tors then7" asks tho Echo do Paris.
Tho Matin says: Tho American
note Is certainly inspired by hiEi
sentiments. 1t is doubtful whether 4
IL opportune. II comes at q momen
whom It Is to every interest OF Ger
many to stop or slacken hostilitios
II comes after the four ringing doc
larstions OF Sonnino. Pokrovsky
BRAND and Lloyd George"
The opinion of the Petit Parisien 4
expressed as fellows. "One may asl
with President Wilson himself whethe
the moment for such Intervention ""
chosen opportunely. The spceche
which were delivered this week b.
Ministers OF the Quadruplo Entent
have defined the views OF the Allie
upon the problems OF peace and war.
The Journal and the Gaulois thin
President Wilson was influenced b.
fear OF intensification OF submarin
warfare and consideration OF the con
sequences of total interruption Of sc
traffic IL the Germans should carr
out the project they are reported I
have decided on and send 125 subma
rines to American waters. The Presi
dent may also have been influenced
these papers say. by the increase Il
the cost OF living In the United states
Let us consider the Presidents not
coolly." saws the Gaulois. and sen
him an answer courteous but firm. be
fitting our dignity and our desire I
safeguard the future"