The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-10
Leaders Do Not Believe
President Threatens
to Retire.
STAKE TOO GREAT
In Such An Event People
Would Unite and Con-
gress Might Take Ac-
ton on War.

Washington. April 9.--The re-
ports that the peace conference
may break up in disagreement.
find little acceptance here. State
department officials and senator's
alike realize that there Is too much
at stake to permit the president to
follow such course. They doubt
whether any threat" to withdraw
was ever made
There are many reasons for this
opinion. In the first place, with
drawal from the conference in such
manner would mean the absolute
abandonment of the league of ma
tons plan on which the presidents
heart is set In the second place IL
would cause such an upheaval In
diplomatic relations between the
United States and the other nations
involved as might again seriously
0n0oA9Ar the peace of the world.
The conservative opinion among
officials generally is that the pres
ident Will stay until the show is
over and that when he sets foot in
America he will carry in his port
folio the draft OF the treaty of the
peace and the accepted covenant of
the league of nations too.
The Next step.
What would be the next step il the
president should come home in such
fashion,? is the question most fire.
asked The answers are varied
and suggestive. Administration men
reply that II the president should ind
himself unable to come to an agree
nent with the powers which appear to
to opposing him. he would then take
the question of peace before the CON
gress and ask for a resolution deciar-
Ing the war at an end
The United States could then take
up and settle for itself in It's own way
the problems of reconstruction with
which the government sooner or later
will be forced to deal
Opponents Of the president. on the
other hand. express tbs. aopinsossSa hal
withdrawal from the peace conference
under the circumstances suggested
would be a confession Of defeat on
the part of the president. Then con
gress would take the matter into Its
own hands. they say, and settle the
awaiting any suggestion from him
Congress- Would Act
In either event II Is believed by sew
ersl OF the senators now in Washing
ton, that congress would lose no time
ia declaring the war at an end, there
by withdrawing all support from the
allied powers. which would be Obliged
to settle for themselves all question.
Of reparation. .indemnities, territorial
adjustments and the like. So far "a
the United States Is concerned. i,
would then be a peace without a
treaty rather than peace without
victory"
The effect which such procedure
might have upon the president stand.
ing with the American people is fire..
quently commented upon There are
those, even among his political ap-
ponents. who express the opinion tina,
II the president were forced TO adop,
such course because OF a refusal hy
European powers to make a peace with
justice. and made a frank statement tc
this effect TO the people of the United
states. II would make him infinitei,
stronger than at any previous stage
of his career
A Republican senator said in thi.
There IL no question that IL the
powers OF Europe refuse to play
the game our way and the presi.
dent has to come home and tell
the American people so, 1t would
make him strong figure before
our people. I would be for him
myself"
It IL true that there are few. II
any. OF the government officials or
congressman who take any stock
IN the idea that the president ss
coming home before the treaty and
the league or nations covenant are
adopted at the conference.