Arizona republican., 1919-04-27
The Effects of a Break at Paris

Events at Paris within the last week have put the idea of League of Nations into second place. ,hey have rather left it dependent the result of the struggle between Signor Orlando and the pres dent If, as an outcome of the affair, peace with Germany should be established separately by the allies or the co-beHgerents it would be difficult to gather up the shattered fragments of the League of Nations idea it would be doubtful whether it would be considered worth while to do
 Notwithstanding the hope expressed in the dis patches from Paris which from the beginning of the sittfngs of the conference have been notably liable, that a rupture may yet be avoided it looks as if a break had definitely occurred President Will son cannot yield if it would have been pos siblc to do at any time It would seem equally impossible for the Italian delegates to give up after the declaration of Orlando.
 Moreover they are sustained by the Italian government and by Italian sentiment which has mani tested itself in indignation against America
 Even if the president were disposed to seek coun- sci of his nation probably none that represented with any degree of accuracy the sentiment of the people would be given for they entertain nothing that could be construed be a national sentiment. They would
 like of course to witness the triumph the president first because the principle which he stands is a just one, and second, because in way he stands though without any special delegation in this par tcular matter, for America But the subject is not Dopuarly regarded vital to weI-being. The national attitude is of indifference Public interest in tho conflict is only @ curious one. There is no compelling appeal national sentiment to offset the appeal that has been made to Italy
 The British and the French who could decide are nos disposed to do so they are rather disposed to let the president and Italy fight it out between them selves-either to come to a compromise or d perma- rupture It is possible therefore that the peace
 
 boundary between Italy and Jugoslavia.
 The Italians seem to regard that as the outcome and so to have regarded it for some time for they have already occupied the disputed territory and ac cording to the dispatches are still pouring troops into it.
 And after the peace conference. The silence of the treaty to this disputed boundary would ind- cate that the British and the French for the time at least, would be disposed permit the Italians to remain in occupancy of the territory they claim under tho secret London treaty of 1916. If they would dis regard that treaty and decide to abrogate it. they would lay the foundation for doing by an acceptance of President Wilson's views and by defining in the peace treaty the Italian boundary.
 The French and British. though would not feel bound to support by force the claims of Italy against Serbia. Croatia and the other affected neighbors. Italy would merely be allowed hold the territory if it could So there would be a seed bed for future wars. The Balkans would continue to be the worlds tinder-box.
 Thus the League of Nations would be born in sinister surroundings. We could not a member undertake to preserve a situation which we had dis approved. We would probably not care to enter into arrangement resting on the ruins of the -four teen points, which had been designed to be the endur- ing foundation of the league. Such an arrangement would be nothing than an alliance and an en- tangling from the outset.