The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-12
STIFF TERMS FOR i
LONGER ARMISTICE
Continued from First Page.


bound together on these matters.
This important understanding, which
IL to have such a pronounced effect on
the peace programme, has not been
kept from the, public. though it Is adj
mitted here many have overlooked the
real significance Of the announcement
made in this connection by the State
Department November 5. The depart
ment gave the text Of memorandum
OF observations" by the allied Govern
ments to President Wilson with re-
spect to his fourteen points. On the
matter of British naval supremacy
they stated:
They (the Allies) must point out,
however. that clause two, referring to
what Is usually described as the free
dom OF the seas, is open to various in
terpretations, some OF which they
could not accept. They must therefore
reserve to themselves complete free
dom on this subject when they enter
the peace conference"
Might Have Prevented Armistice.
This was the outcome. II now has de-
self-defence Of the Empire. the exist
ence OF Britain and her colonies and
the right to unquestioned continuance
Of her naval policy. The possibility Of
supplantlng the dominance OF the
British flea by an international agree
ment, and other phases Of this ques-
ton were .threshed out thoroughly.
with the net result that France and
Italy pledged themselves to make the
British Interpretation of freedom of
the seas one Of the fundamental and
Interchangeable bases OF the entire peace
discussion. 1t was necessary for this
definite agreement to be reached In adj
vance, as otherwise Great Britain
would not have felt at liberty even to
agree to the armistice.
Likewise had the Allies not guaran-
teed to France the right to "compen-
| sation from Germany for all damage
| DONE" there would have been no arm
istice.
Premier Clemenceau when asked
what he intended to take from Ger
many by way OF compensation is said
to have replied: Everything that can
be moved" The French had the sup
the meeting in Versailles for a policy
OF taking by force, II necessary, every
| thing possible to provide the sinews
! OF industrial life, coal. cattle, rolling
stock, machinery food. everything in
! fact that is Justly due France as a
| result Of Germany's four years of
ravages.
Wilson Endorsed stand.
The French pleaded their case so
| well at Versailles that President VIII
son Endorsed their stand along with
| Great Britain and Italy. and an
| nouncement to. this effect was made
| here November 5. France as a mat
ter OF fact has been seriously. crippled
| by the war. 1t is explained. and future
financial recompense is not sufficient.
Both France and Germany lost about
| 100000 men in the war, but the
French population was 80 000. 900 COM
| pared to Germany's $4,000. 900, SO the
| percentage OF loss has been far greater
France has a large war debt to pay
| while Germany raised her money from
! within. Taxes on the French people
will be three times as great as they
were before the war, and the number
capable OF engaging In productive pur-
suits has materially dwindled, So that
| this increased taxation must be borne
| by greatly reduced number. Not an
! acre Of Germany has been destroyed
while the most productive part OF
France has been laid waste.
In more general way 1t Was shown
at Versailles that France must VIZ
tually have free hand to fulfil her
| immediate needs at Germany's ex-
| pense or otherwise the French ma
| ton would inevitably drift toward ex-
tinction. AS a matter OF necessity
not revenge, Germany must be stripped
to the bone. and France must have the
first chance to do the stripping, Il is
explained.
German Influence Busy.
| The President supported fun conn
| pensation for France. but did not go
on record as supporting the other vital
feature of the Entente agreement
freedom of the seas involving British
\ naval supremacy. On the other hand.
the President did not express opposi-
| ton to the joint agreement Of the
Allies on this score. Diplomats here
doubt seriously whether President VIII
son really contemplates opposing one
of the vital principles upon which the
whole peace programme is based
They believe that much OF irrespon-
| sible talk about the Presidents deter
mination to fight against British naval
| supremacy Is inspired German propa-
| ganda. reinforced by others who do
not understand the problems at issue
and seek to give the President tenn
porary popularity here by gratuitously
| placing him in the role of crusader
against British naval power.
officials who expect much good may
come OF the Presidents visit abroad
| and are hopeful of real results regard
the efforts of certain politicians and
| Others to stir up anti-British senti-
| ment as very unfortunate and likely
| to embarrass the President seriously.
PARIS, Dec 11.-Marshal Foch has
refused the request of the German
armistice delegates that they be per-
+ mitted to communicate with the prov
inces west OF the Rhine now being oc-
cupied by the Allies. The Comma nder
in Chief declared that It was necessary
to maintain the blockade OF Germany
as provided by the armistice.
bay State Influenza Worse.
Boston, Dec. 1.-THE State Depart
ment Of Health received reports OF