The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-07
BALFOUR SEES:
NECESSITY FOR .
NATION LEAGUE
WOULD INVOLVE GREAT
TASK FOR AMERICA
Must Be Something 6 More
Than a Mere Instrument
TO Prevent War.

LONDON, Dec. (By the ASsoCldlcu
Prcssl l--Arthur J. Balfour. secretary
for foreign affairs, in outlining his
views on the peace conference, to-day
told tho Associated Press that hc
thought the meeting in Paris this month
would be merely informal and prclimi-
nary 10 the conference of the associated
governments at the first Of the year
which would formulate all the import
ant terms Of peace agreements.
This conference, he added, would be
thu. most important and the longest Or
the series. When it was finished tho
enemy countries would be called IN 70
ratify the conclusions reached:
Mr.. Ifalfour said the British govern
men; had not yet made any fixed ar
Engagements Tor Pres!dcnt wilson's
visit to England, rs il would be prema-
uurr to do so until more was known re-
g;rrdinE the Presidents own plans. Great
Britain would be guided solely by his
wishes.
League Of Nations
The foreign secretary said he believed
the question OF a league OF nations was
the most important work imposed on the
conference. The prominence Mr. Will
son has given the subject is a valuable
contribution to civilization. he de-
clarrd.
II think" continuped Nlr. Balfour, %
league of nations 4 vital necessity or
This war is 10 produce all the good We
expect to come out OF IT. The United
states wouid have to bear large share
in the work it involves. II should DC
something more than mere inStrument
10 Drcvcnt war The world is more COM
plicatcd than We are inclined to think.
il Will be folly 10 imagine IT possinIe 70
constitute Z: world with states endowed
with equal powers and rights. >"
"Hut l. wish 10 say, emplatically, in
ms opinion TO devise IN concert workable
machinery for them is one of the high,
est functions the conference can deaI
Safe for Democracy.
Referring to President Wilson's phase
make the world safe for democracy"
Mr.. Balfour said: ~;
SAFE for democracy merely by multiply
inE Tho number OF democratic states.
Mr. Balfour explained that he was not
thinking especially Of Germany, but OF
the new states in process OF FORMATION
In eastern Europe
we must not assume" he said, that
when such a system lis created in cast
crn Europe like that wrong VIII DC I'M
possible The passions which arise be-
tween ncighboring democIacies mars
them quite US prone to undertake strlfe
as X under other foEms OF governm ent
Some critics say that the changes tEat
are being; made In eastern Europe WI
Balkanizc Europe. but / look forwaIh
Ia something different. It would be in
tnlcra ble If Europe and America madc'no
provision against turning Europe INTO
cockpit for further wars.
Tho Greatest Task.
IT believe 4 league Of. nations Will be
required TO .super;ntend or control not
only the criminal ambitions OF great
autocracics but to prevent any rash
and inconsistent countries from gong 10
democracy except for countries which
have reached 4 relatively advanced
stage Of civilization. 4 league could
bc trustee for those loss developed:
nations the greatest work os the confer
encc"
Asked if Russia would be represented
at the peace conference. Mt. Bolfour re-
piled:
now. We have no relations with
Dol$hcvikist government. which Is
main dcfacto government in cent?
F:uropcon Russia. But there arc ma
other dcfaGto gnvernmcntS.
Il think Russia'S status Will be
tied at the peace conference. ] cal
conceive that tn. conference will reg
any Russian government as at prose-
constituted entitled to send delegates
Discussing the question Of the wa
idamaEcs Germany will have to pay. Id
Il think. if the amount Is to be deter
mined by President Wilson's fourteen
points. the narro~cst Interpretation OF
those points would cali for n payment
which would strain Gcrmanys re-
sources to the utmost"
Mr.. Ba'four said he desired 70 send
to America, in connection with the cell
cbration of British day" message Of
warm thanks or.the recognition and APP
probation shown, by the United Statcx
for the British effort in the common
cause. The more We dwell on the work
of The war. the more we realize it was Il
common work"