Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-01-04

Editor Vann does not discuss this
latter phase of the question. We have
always thought that it was Il r.dicu-
lous proposition to send a delegation
OF "p2upcrs." so to speak to France
with just LITTLE more than their
transportation expenses to lobby at
such meeting rs shall be held III
Versailles or Paris. Fifty thousand
dollars would be small amount to
be expended by such Il delegation.
But we are getting away from Editor
Eann's proposition. He asks every col
orcd editor III tho country to write
Il letter to the editor of L'Matin, the
largest paper i'll France, asking the
editor Of this influential French
journal to receive our delegates and
to give them and their cause some
publicity before tho Peace Conference
opens.
INC suggestion is good one, but
this powerful French daily is under
the direct control Of the French Gov
crnment and the French Government
is i'll close alliance with Great Britain
ana both countries are in accord and
desirous of giving no offense to tho
distinguished head of the American
nation and tho distinguished head of
the American nation will hardly coun
tenance the activities of the reprcsen
tatlVes that we arc sending abroad,
wien he has chosen Dr. r. r. Motion,
DR.. W. e. b. Du Bots presumably
and himself and some others to re-
present us, both inside and outside of
the Peace Conference.
1t seems to us that Editor Vann
would have saved both himself and
ourselves much trouble had he cabled
tho editor Of L'Matin and ascertain
ed IN advance whether or not he
would give us the publicity in the col
umns of his influential journal be
ore t1c assembling OF the Peace Con
ference. AS the matter now stands.
our delegates will go to France as
lobbyists and n short conference with
some of the leading ones in this coun
try who have been engaged in that
undertaking will convince him that
it Is expensive business, even when
confined to the legitimate avenues
set by the Government.
We must admit that we have been
puzzled as to just how these various
delegations alleging that they will
attend the Peace Conference at Yer
sailles will be able to make their
wants and desires known. 1t is evil
dent that this phase Of the situation
is worrying Editor Vann. Unless soma
steps have been taken that are not
at present visible, we shall find our
selves III n most ridiculous attitude,
both at home and abroad. The per-
sons that have been selected should be
diplomats and IL they are not diplo-
mats, they should be in a position to
employ diplomats to advise them.
The amount Of money already rails
ed will not prove to DO "a drop in the
bucket" so to speak and tho only re
'NA" VA NaISoC NuIlouS ckGCJ1OnS ana Sc
lections of alleged delegates will be
to give some mcmbers OF our race
notoriety and nothing more. We hope
that the colorod people of the coun-
try will realize that 1t takes money
to carry out this project and much
money. The National Race Congress
should be backed with money and
the National Equal Rights League
should be given the same kind of fl
nancial assistance if the wishes Of the
promoters are to be fully realized and
the people with whom we arc identi
lied benefited. Let us hear less talk
about going to France and attending
the Peace Conference and more talk
about getting the finance and paying
the expenses of the people that arc
bong sent there.