New-York tribune., 1918-11-25
Entente Allies Not Exactly
in Accord With Presi-
dents Peace Views
By Carter ield

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-It is by no
means taken for granted here that
President Wilson will find the repre-
sentatives of the Allies at the peace
conference as nearly in accord with
his proposal for league Of nations,
or a league to inforce peace, as some
friends of the Administration would
have the public believe.
Views Of leaders in Great Britain and
France, it is declared on excellent au-
thority, have been much distorted by
some newspapers in this country, and
a general impression has been created
that this particular proposal of the
President would be cordially indorsed
by delegates representing these two
countries at Versailles.
For instance, the official French view
of the league OF nations proposal has
been received by cable from Paris, and
it is, once polite verbiage is stripped
away, a frank repudiation of the doc
trine as it is generally understood
here. The French, in short, agree
frankly and fully with the majority
of the Senate of the United States, but
not with the President of the United
States.
The French hold that with the sign
ing Of the treaty OF peace there will
come into being what might be called
league of nations, the sole purpose
and function of the league being to
see to it that the provisions of the
treaty of peace are carried out. They
have no idea of any formal organiza-
tion to carry ont that programme.
They do not conceive as possible an
international army or navy, or an inter-
national court or high commission to
settle disputes between nations, or any
of the other institutions generally con-
sidered indispensable to any practical
working Of a league to enforce peace.
French Idea Not Different
So that, as matter of fact, the
French idea of a league of nations is
different in no sense or degree from
the understanding which always exists
/ between the victorious Allies at the
conclusion of any peace.
As one man put it to-day, it is such
an obvious aftermath of any peace
treaty that it goes without saying, and
surely could not be considered for one
moment a new factor in insuring the
worlds peace or one that would have
to be soemnly agreed to by the peace
conference.
And this French official view, need
less to say, has no contemplation OF
any president of the league of nations.
There is not available in Washing
ton any such fiat statement of the
British official view of the league of
nations.
However, it has been learned that
Parliament has applauded and with ap-
parently astonishingly little dissent. a
speech by Mr.. Balfour which literally
tore the whole doctrine of a league OF
nations to shreds.
The British having officially joined
the French in refusing to be bound by
the freedom of the seas point in the
Presidents fourteen terms, utterances
in Great Britain on this closely alliec
point are not material. Mr. Balfoul
took up the various propositions with
regard to the league of nations one
by one, and there was no room fol-
conjecture or speculation as to hi.
position when he had concluded.
Call 1t Mastery Arrangement
Several United States Senators. OF
reading recently q brief cable dispatch
setting forth that Mr.. Balfour had ex
pressed the British view of the league
of nations and indorsed the Presi
COntisued on neat Dd0e