Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-01
BALANCE Of POWER
IDEAS CONTRASTED
Some Americans Think That
President Made a Direct
Reply to CIemenceau.

/
PARIS. December 3t.-The declara-
ton made by President Wilson in his
speech at Manchester Monday against
/ balance of power among the nations
| is regarded in high American quar-
/ tiers here as a direct rejoinder to the
speech OF Premier Clemenceau in the
| chamber of deputies. in which he de-
| clared his support of the balance OF
power" idea and his purpose to make
| it his guiding thought in the peace
negotiations.
Whether it was intended to be SO it
is not known. but the Presidents
| speech, coming within twentyfour
| hours after that of the premier, has
! led to contrast between the two
declarations as sharply defining two
| opposing viewpoints on the subject
| of balance of power among the ma
| lions.
| Speech of Premier.
| The textual copy of the premier's
speech on Sunday night is now avail
| ahle and gives the following refer
ence on this subject:
| There is an old system which ap-
| pears condemned today and to which
| | do not fear to say that / remain
| faithful at this moment Countries
| frontiers with the necessary elements
| and the balance of powers
Great disorder broke out in the
chamber at this point, and Pierre
F'rizon, a socialist deputy, exclaimed:
This is the system which has
gone into bankruptcy"
Premier Clemenceau continued,
saying:
This system appears to be con-
demned by some very high authori-
~ hal
that if such balance had preceded
the war-that If America, England,
France and Italy had got together in
declaring that whoever attacked one
of them must expect to see the three
others take up the common de-
The premier was interrupted here
by applause and disorder in the
chamber. but later resumed:
There is in this system of al
liances which I do not renounce--I
say it most dstinety-my guiding
thought at the conference, if your
body permits me to go there. and
believe that nothing should separate
after the war the four great powers
that the war has united. To this en-
tente | will make all sacrifices"
Presidents Statement.
The statement of the French premier
is looked upon as foreign to the state
ment made a few hours later at Man
chester by President Wilson, when the
President said:
"If the future had nothing for us but
a new attempt to keep the world at a
right poise by a balance OF power the
United States would take no interest,
because she would Join no combination
of power which is not combination of
all of US"
The French papers have refrained
from discussing the difference of the
viewpoints resulting from NJ. Clemen-
ceau's speech. except the socialist or
gan Humanite, which says:
With to ,ne ne pepudla,es
ceptions. Tomorrow it will be necessary
to arm again, to construct fortresses
and cannon and forge alliances against
third powers. To the society Of nations
there is not even discreet bow"
American officials here today express
ed the belief that when the full signiff-
canoe of Premier Clemencau's declara-
ton before the chamber Of deputies be-
comes apparent there will not be any
difference in the principles involved.
The impression apparently is grow
ing that the progress In disposing of
the details of the questions regarding
peace conditions has been so salts
factory that the actual sessions of the
conference have been appreciably
shortened.
Joint Investigations.
1t is now anticipated that many
questions which at first it was sup
posed would command the attention
of the conference for a long time.
such as boundaries of states and
racial determination. will be made
the subject of joint Investigations,
the results of which will be presented
later for ratification without the con-
ference being held In waiting for
them. The same is supposed to be
true concerning the bill of damages
against Germany, which may be as
sessed by a commission on which all
the belligerents may be represented
When the peace commission has
disposed of the question of actual
damages. the question of punitive In
demnity may be raised. The impress
sion of some of the Americans who
have been studying this matter is
that when the actual damages have
been assessed the bill will run so
high that the collection of indemnity
will present perplexing problem.