Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-07
SEES IA POINTS
AS GUIDE ONLY
Balfour Declares Wilson's
Outline Is Not Definite
Limitation
RUSSIA RTC pR0RT EN-
RUSSIA BIG PROBLEM
Foreign Secretary Wants U. S.
to Join in Government of
War-Stricken States

w -btl lCkASh ht"tSp
Special Cobie TO Evening Public Ledger
Copyright. 1918. By Ne,O York Times Co.
London, Dec. Z.
The formal preliminary Peace Con-
ference is unlikely to assemble until
after the New Year. Arthur J. Balfour
tells your correspondent. This. he ex.
planned, was only his personal view. as
the procedure must be settled when the
representatives Of the associated gov.
ernments meet.
The British general elections would
prevent, he thought, Lloyd George or
any Of his colleagues from being in
Paris before December Is, and then
would ensue a period of consultations
on the immensely complicated ques-
tions to come before the conference.
"Somt Of these" Mr.. Balfour said
may be carried on formally, some in
formally and others, perhaps, almost
casually but / hope and expect that
they will lead to a most illuminating
interchange Of ideas"
Speaking Of the conference itself
the British Foreign Minister expressed
the opinion that the preliminary ses.
sions would be the most important
Of all. According to precedent the
country in which 1t was held would
determine the procedure and decide on
the chairman.
AS for Mr.. Wilson's fourteen points
he took them rather as guide to the
general policy than a formal legal
,tntn 20 lt,,t NP hn Al
cisions to be reached.
Mr.. Balfour could give no idea as to
when the President could come to this
country. He expressed great desire to
see him here. but said the date Of his
visit must depend on mis- own convent
ence.
Asked as to the position Of Russia at
the conference, Mr.. Balfour said:
'It Ia extremely difficult to say that
now. In Russia the Bolsheviki seem to
control certain parts and other Gov
ernments other parts. 1t must not be
forgotten that there are certain frag-
ments of ancient Russia-States in the
northwest, like Finland-which ask for
complete independence, and I think
ought to have IL. The conference must
decide what line to take toward them !;
but unless things change completely. I
sec no prospect of any government hav-
ing title to represent Russia as we used
to think Of IT.
Then Mr. Balfour was asked if he had
seen the Round Table suggestion that
the United States would be invited to
take an acive part in governing some Of
the territories left without Governments
by the war.
Personally, should wish." he re-
piled. ITO see the United States take its
full share in the work of the league Of
nations. This is merely my own view,
and I don't knew what your President
thinks
1T Is all very vague speculation, but
I am emphatic in my opinion that the
creation Of something like a workable
international machinery for this pur-
pose Is the highest function the con-
ference can propose for itself. I do
not think the complexity of the problem
can be exaggerated
"One Of the most striking and illu-
minatlng phrases of President Wilson
spoke OF making the world safe for
democracy. I don't think the world will
be safe for democracy merely by null
tiplying democratic states. Probably
the number Of democratic states will be
enormously increased; but we must not
assume that because we have recreated
thc map VI kSoiopO "~tLo WILL Dt llipOS-
slble, or eS en- unlikely.
Il do not, indeed. believe that true
democracy will be capable of such long
designed criminal schemes as the autoc-
racies have proven themselves capable
OF. Germany cherished and deliberately
pursued farsighted policy Of interna-
tional crime that think 1t Is impossible
that true democratic state could ac-
complish.
League Trustee
Mr. Balfour then referred to the his
tory Of the Balkan States, and the criti-
cism that the Allies were about to Bal
kanize Europe, and create a system Of
small States. ever ready to fly at one
another's throats. He went on:
"It would be intolerable if the United
States and the associated Powers were
to call into being all these small States
and make no provision to make sure that
Europe was not asain to be turned into a
cockpit. 1t Is for this reason that ]
bolieVe a league of nations is needed
| not only to control the criminal instincts
OF sreat autocracies, nut to see that
war should not again be permitted to
devastate the world. I think that the
league ought 60 act AS trustee of these
countries that have not yet reached the
state at which true democracy can be
applied. Democracy is not suit OF
clothes that can be put on at any stage
of development.
Mr. Balfour paused, then said very
earnestly:
May I add that I regard this as
one Of the greatest tasks before the
conference? We may fail, but we must
make an effort to deal with the prob
lens thrust on mankind; and I think
| the prominence President Wilson has
given the subject is a valuable contribu-
tion to the history of civilization"