Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-12-27
RAsIC PEACE TERMS
ALREADY DECIDED.

Washington. Dec. s4.--"It IL hard
~ too much 20 say that the basic
terms of peace have already been de-
termined. declared a well-known
diplomat while in Washington re-
Gently. " ostensihly Mr.. Wilson was
asked to come to Paris for the pur-
pose OF formulating with the three
premiers. the great principles that
win be laid before the formal peace
conference for its discussion and elab-
grafton. But the premiers themselves
have held already several conferences
and in reality they are the gentlemen
who have framed the essential poli-
cies that will be adhered to by Eng
land, France and Italy. Doubtless
the opinion OF Mr.. Wilson will be
asked and II may be that he will
think he has had a guiding hand In
the determination Of terms That
will. OF course. be the impression
that the cables are made 20 bring TO
America. But Il may be taken aa q
fact that the terms OF peace are go
ing TO be written by the nations that
have suffered from the war. and that
In the future viii have to live as near
neighbors to the people who are re-
sponsible for their sacrifices. The
United States. with ita safety COM
paratively secured by 5000 miles OF
Intervening water. WIN have very
little to say about the terms imposed
rpon Germany.
And that is as II should be. The
fact that England. France and Italy
will dominate the peace conference
does not mean that the interests OF
the United States will suffer thereby.
Those countries well know that the
end of the war was fastened and vic
tory made secure for the allies by the
Intervention of America. They also
are aware that they are debtors to the
United States not only in sentiment
tai way hut intrinsicaliy 20 the ex-
tent OF about seven billion dollars.
Those considerations viii insure for
this country not only fair but gener-
GUS treatment in the conference.
"But on the other hand. the United
States must concede. and It's citizens
generally, with the exception Of Mr..
Wilson. do concede. that the prob
lens OF the peace table relate essen
tally to Europe. The only Ques-
ion in which we have an interest 10
disarmament OF Germany that viii
render her impotent TO disturb again
the peace OF the world. The other
noints in the treaty will deal with
European boundaries. indemnities
and reparations. none Of which con-
Germs this country in the least.
THE stripping of power from Ger
many may be left safely 20 the allieA,
who can do II far more efRectualIy
alone than II interefered with by
WilBonian ideals, And they know II.
They also know that the settlement
NJ European state boundaries ia none
NJ our business and they will not
consent to Interference on that
score from Mr.. Wilson. Il may be
said that II the proposed league of
nations enters into the treaty the
United States will have q very vital
interest In that document. That IL
true. but the allies know that In or.
der to give force to such a league the
treaty must first be ratified by the
United States Senate. representing
the American people, and with that
thought in mind interests OF the eoun-
try will be handled c0naervatlveiy.
Secure in his White House study
Mr.. Wilson serenely reached certain
conclusions from cabled news of the
world war. With his mind filled with
his deductions he went to Paris in
tent on dominating a peace confer
ence whose other members have lived
through four long years OF war, have
seen and suffered with their people.
and who know at first hand OF hor-
rors. the repetition of which they
seek now TO prevent. Il 10 ridiculous
to suppose for q moment that they
viii allow Mr.. Wilson's foFglve-and-
forget policies to Interfere with the
program they have mapped out"