The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-12-31
.CLEMENCEAU FOR
i OLD BALANCE Of
\ POWER PRINCIPLE
FRENCH PREMIER NOT IN
ACCORD WITH WILSON
ON THAT POINT
GETS A CONFIDENCE VOTE
Tells Deputies He Would Not Be
Telling the Truth If He Said He
Was in Accord With American
President on All Points, But De-
nies Deceiying Him.

Paris, Sunday, Dec, 29.--Premiei
Clemenceau was given vote OF con
hdence, $50 TO l5+, in the chamber
of deputies today after a stormy
debate during which the war aim'
of France were outlined by Stepher
Pichon, foreign minister, and The
premier had indicated his adherence
to the "old systems OF alliance calleC
the balance OF power.
1t was indicated by the premie'
that the formation OF league oi
nations might be carried out con
cordantly with the drafting OF the
treaty of peace. NJ. RenaudeI, social
ist, brought about this statement by
expressing his regret that the allies
had decided not to organize the
league until after peace had beer
declared.
Nothing OF the sort was the
answer Of NJ. Clemenceau. "Whethei
his chamber gives me a vote OF con
idence or not. | am ready to resign
office" he said. "If you have min
lte's hesitation, now is the time to
,heck your pilot
Replying to charges made by Al
lert Thomas, socialist leader, that
ne had kept the chamber without
Information, Premier Clemenceau
said:
Peace Terrible Question.
"The question OF peace is terrible.
It is a question which is one of the
most difficult ever submitted to the
nation at any time. In few days
he conference will meet at Paris,
which will settle the affairs OF ma
ions in all parts OF the world.
"People say Premier Lloyd
George has spoken, President Will
son has spoken, but you have said
nothing. | have given explanations
whenever you have asked me. But it
is not because Mr.. Lloyd George has
spoken or because Mr.. Wilson has
arrived from America with elevated
thoughts that | am obliged to cX-
plain myself and keep running to the
speakers roStrum.
France was in an especially dit
hcult situation. 1t was the country
nearest Germany. America was TAR
away and took her time to come
into the war. England came at once
at the call of Mr.. Asquith. We SUIT
fered and fought; our men were
moved down and our towns and vii
lagos were destroyed.
There is an old system OF alliance
called the balance OF power. 1t
seems to be condemned nowadays,
but If such a balance had preceded
the war. if England, the United
States. France, and Italy had agreed.
saying that whoever attacked one OF
them attacked the whole world, the
war would not have occurred. This
system of alliances, which | do not
renounce, will be my guiding
thought at the peace conference II
your confidence sends me there.
Not Deceiving Wilson.
"I have been reproached with de-
ceiving President Wilson. ] do not
understand why. | have made it a
rule not to question him, but to let
him develop his views. That is what
he did. President Wilson, to whom
certain persons, in the interest OF
their parties. attribute intentions
which perhaps are not his, opened
his mind and has inspired respect
through simple speech and the no
olity of it.
"President Wilson said to me: l
will try to convince you. but per
haps YOU will convince me.
You know that representations
have been made on the question OF
freedom OF the seas. Premier Lloyd
George said to me: You will admit
that without the British fleet you
could not have continued the war. !
answered in the affirmative. The
British premier then asked me II
was disposed to do anything IN
opposition to British ideas on the
freedom of the seas. | answered in
the negative. Concerning this ques-
ton, President Wilson said to me:
"'I approve OF what you said.
What ! have to offer the allied gov
ernments will change in no way your
answer to Premier Lloyd George.