The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-07
NATIONS LEAGUE
CONFERENCE WORK,
BALFOUR STATES
British Foreign Secretary Out
lines Views on Peace
Tables Duty in Preventing
Further European Wars.

LONDON, Dec. Z, CBy the Associated
Press. ARTHUR J. Balfour, secretary Of
state for foreign affairs, In outlining
his views on the peace conference, told
the Associated Press that he thought
the meeting in Paris his month would
be merely Informal and preliminary to
the conference of the associated gov
ernments at the first OF the year, which
would formulate all the important terms
OF peace agreements. This conference,
he added, would be the most important
n the longest of the series, When Il
was finished the enemy countries would
be called In to ratify the conclusions
reached.
Mr.. .Balfour said the British govern
ment had not yet made any fixed ar
rangenlents for President Wilson to
visit England as It would be prema-
ture TO do so until more was known re-
gardinE the presidents W plans.
Great Britain would be guided solely by
his wishes, .
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.. Wilson has
given the subject is a valuable contri-
button to civilization" he declared.
League Is Necessary.
IT think" continued MIR. Balfour,
"a leagv Of nations is n vital necessity
II this wal Is to produce all the good
we expect to come out Of II. The United
States would have to bear a large share
IL the work II involves. II should be
something more than Il mere instru-
ment to prevent war, The world is
more complicated than we are inclined
to think. 1t would be folly to imagine
It possible to constitute a world with
states endowed with equal powers and
rights.
But I wish TO say omphatically, in
my opinion, to devise in concert work.
able machinery for them Is one OF the
highest functions the conference can
Referring to President wilson's
phrase, make the world safe for de-
mocracy," Mr.. Balfour said;
II do not think the world can be
made safe for democracy merely by
multiplying the number Of democratic
Mr.. Balfour explained that he was
not thinking especially Of Germany, but
OF new states In process OF formation
in Eastern Europe.
To Protect Peace.
I'VE must not assume" he said,
that when such a system Is created
In Eastern Europe like that, wrong will
be impossible. The passions which
arise between ~neighboring democracies
make them quite as prone to undertake
strife as II unueF otner forms or gov
eminent. Some critics say that the
changes that are being made in Eastern
Europe will Balkanize Europe, but /
look forward ito something different.
II would be intolerable II Europe and
America made no provision against
turning Europe into a cockpit for fur
Their wars.
II believe a league of nations will be
required to superintend and control not
only the criminal ambitions OF great
autocracies, but to prevent any rash
and inconsiderate countries from going
TO war. II Is impossible to talk about
democracy except for countries which
have reached a relatively advanced
stage OF civilization. A league could be
trustee for those less developed. Hold
ing this view, / regard n league of ma
lions the greatest work OF the confer
ence."
Asked II Russia would be represented
at the peace conference, Mr.. Balfour
replied
TT is hard to define what Russia is
now. We have no relations with the
Bolshevist government, which Is the
main de facto government in Central
European Russia. But there are many
other de fActo governments.
II think Russia's status will be set
tied at the peace conference, | can
not conceive that the conference win
regard any Russian government "a
at present constituted entitled to send
delegates