Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-25
ES in LEAGUE?
vER, PARIS vow
Iajority of Writers Would
Treat Germany as an
Outcast
E0NDEMN GREY'S PLEA
M Except Pacifists Favor Or
n eanization for Protection
Against Teutons
bacial Cable TO EUening Public Ledger

copprsoht 1918. bD Nc,o York Times co.
Paris, June rs.
The article published by Viscount
Grey. formerly Foreign Secretary of
Great Britain. on the necessity for the
constitution of a league of nations was
fpceived badly by the press here. where
the idea of anything in the way of an
\ International organization which will in
cltide Germany or anything German Is
secuted by the Allies. except by mere
handful of the more extreme Socialists.
Not that Frenchmen as a nation have
any rooted objections 20 society of ma
tions as such. On the contrary. there
are no people in the world who are more
anxious than the French to live in peace
with their neighbors and give an oppor-
tunity for the free development of art,
science, Industry and social evolution of
every nation in close cooperation with
all others.
But they are convinced. in their bones
that II is impossible to regard as any
thing but absolutely farcical the idea of
cndeavoring to persuade Germany to
enter into mutual arrangement as the
proposed society of nations involves.
Germany has by her own acts declared
herself an outcast and pariah among
nations. the French argue. and must in
the nature of things remain so.
League with Germnny-Never
That a league of nations for mutual
& protection against Germany and to crush
4 Germany until she is powerless to do
further harm for all time is not only
Feasible but eminently desirable in the
interest of all other peoples. every
Frenchman agrees. but league with
Cermany-never they say.
what head of n State" says Premier
Clemenceaus paper. LHomme Libre,
would ever consent to put his name at
the foot of a treaty with that of the
criminal and lying Hohenzolern?
"Can such a possibility be imagined as
the loyal President Wilson accepting
from the hand of the Hohenzollern the
pen with which to sign a pact of the
reconciliation of their peoples? Never"
A parliamentary committee was Gre
ated some twelve months ago under the
presidency of Leon Bourgeois to consider
the conditions under which a society of
nations might be realized. 1t Is signfl-
( cant that, although this committee fin
ished its work six months ago and trans
4 mitted its report to NJ. Clemcnceau, as
head of the Government. on January II.
the report has not Yet been laid before
the Chamber. Efforts have been made
more than once by Socialist members to
obtain the publication of the report, but
i - far and although NJ. Clemenceau him
pelf made half a promise on one occa-
H1lnn. the report is still held back.
10 far as can be gathered there Is
a virtually no support for the proposal
here except among professional pacifists.
1t is not surprising. therefore, that
yiscount Grey's pamphlet is very freely
handled by the majority of the news
K papers here. The Journal des Debats, in
an article which it entities "Reveries of
Country Gentleman" dismisses his ar
= guments as the impossible and childish
( 5Aeas of a man who it suggests. is
y unable to realize the practical things of
& public life.
Temps Condemnatory
The Temps, more moderate. is equally
eondemnatory of the principle enunciated
By the British statesman. 1t says:
$50 long as Germany remains what
she Is she excludes herself by her own
act from any society of nations which
3 ehe cannot herself control after the Prus-
sian manner. To try to convince her
by argument of the necessity. say of,
giving up the religion of force and
Z distinguishing the spirit Of war Is
}llusory.
"A society Of free nations. inveterately
aflIed against the powers of prey. is a
reality which may be foreshadowed with
confidence as a normal stage in evolu-
z tt0n but to try to create league in
\ which would be found alike freemen and
oerfs, victim and executioners. those who
have suffered and those who have not
expiated their crimes, would be blum
z der"
The pacifist Pays alone pleads for the
acceptance of Viscount Grey's ideas and
sxogrets that he and Leon Bourgeois are
rot In the places occupied by Lloyd
] lsecrge and Clemenceau, and that the
) latter do not echo the words of the
x American President.