The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-19
BERLIN BERLIN IN IN I 1T ROAR GsIa{l
TERMS OF ARMISTICE AGREEMENT
Mistake Not to Have
Settled Forthwith
By Rene yfviani
(For1ner Premier of France. J

Paris, Feb. 1s-Perhaps IL was
mistake on the part of the allies not
10 settle with Germany forthwith at
ter the signing OF the armlsiice and
postpone for later arbitration the in
numerbble conflicts which The world
offers.
On the western front we are ready.
Franco has right to Aisaee-Lorraine
and she expects q favorable settle
nent OF the question Of the Saar min
ing region and recognition OF her CEN
tenary rights to Syria. not to mention
indemnities for the damage she has
suffered
j. IL possible TO fix the Russian
frontiers while the chaos con;inues in
hat unhappy country. Yet settlement
with Germany quireS a previous
settlement of the Russian question.
IL there arc negotiations TO whom
are we TO listen as Russia's spokes-
men7 So far Bolshevism alone has
voice. The Others are silent or pro-
test or hide, Herein lies the crux of
the whole problem.
Work of The Hun.
Germany with diahpical skill.
stimulated Bolshevism in Russia she
Kept 1t up. morally and financially.
She continues to do SO. Meanwhile
she threatens the world with this
moral social scourge She uses 1t AS
her chisf weap pom.
France has too much good sense
and insight-property In France is too
equally distributed, national unity is
TOO strong, aud the popular mind TOO
wide awake--sharpened by the ex-
perience- of four revolutions briefly
France is too aStute TO fnIl into this
trap. 10 suecomb To this menace.
aide. What. then, since the Russian
problem Is unsolved because there is
little likelihood OF the Ptinkipo con-
ference bringing material results. are
we 10 expect?
Public opinion, which has been pa
tient during the darkest hours of the
last four years is no. anxious now.
But what becomes OF tie armistics:
what will the final peace be Shall
We be equal 70 our victory Havs
we shed 80 much blood in order 10
enable arrogant Germany to draw ad-
vantages from her very defeat and
turn It against her victors
Stand Agninst Aggression
7 am only speaking with France.
But France Ia in solidarity with the
world. Since Franco stands as the
advanced sentinel against aggression
as such. exposed TO all e%sntualities,
her fate involves the destines of all
mankind. II is not France alone tina:
might be nenaced by a renewal OF
German militarism and pan-German-
ism. but after France, all nations.
There Is another terrible conse-
euence TO be confronted If we fail
TO obtain the kind of reace with the
blood of fallen free men cries for
through the voice of the living.
namely the collapse of parIiAmentism.
II that were to come to pass, what
would the free people of the world
think? They have given their child
rem for the most sacred cause IN his
tory and now are their governments
unable to utilize victory 1t would
be proof of total inca pacity and alb
solute impotence on the part of those
who thought they could evolve gre
and wonderful plans from the world :
deliberation. II would be a manifesto
lion OF the power of autocratic states
whose chiefs act without consulting
their subjects.
The Contrast
II is-~impossible to hide tho con-
trast between the rapid, decisive and
prompt action of autocrats, and the
iimid, embarrassed. hindered. power
less and inefficient action of congress
of peoples. But IL such were to be
The nature of the actions OF the peace
conference. 1t would mark the most
profound demonstration OF inter-
national retrogression
Farewell, noble intention TO form a