The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-03-08
DELAY OVER PEACE
MAKES THE FRENCH
PRESS IMPATIENT
Much Criticism OverReturn
OF Military Terms to
Marshal F0ch
EXCEPTION is TAKEN
Cause is From Revictualing and
Sinking of German
Fleet

PARIS, March 8-The French
newspapers express some impatience
because the Supreme War Council
has failed to proceed with the dis
cussion of military, naval and aerial
peace terms, as presented by Mar
shall Foch, but have requested him,
instead, to distinguish more clearly
between provisional and permanent
terms. ;SSs
Exception is taken by some Of the
papers to the word provisional, on
the ground that when the armistice
was renewed its duration was left in
determinate, for the express reason
that it was to be superseded IN
very short time by permanent mill
tary terms.
La Liberte points out that the
schedule of the "Big Five" has been
so disarranged by turning back Mar
shall Foch's proposals that progress IS
now impossible. Marcelin says in
that paper:
"There is little to be said to justi-
fy postponement, as we all know. The
reason given is that the matter has
been adjourned to await the return
here of the British Premier, Nh.
Lloyd George. We must then resign
ourselves, but it goes without saying
that this first delay will not, be fol
lowed by second. Mr.. Lloyd George
should not try the patience of public
opinion too often"
Pertinax, in L'Echo de Paris, be-
trays a similar spirit of critical irri-
tation. Indeed, the censor found 1t
advisable to cancel part of his article
on the subject.
This attitude, which, needless to
say, does not pass unnotlced by the
British, is the outcrop of recent dis
sonance over the re-victualling OF
Germany and the British proposal to
sink the German fleet.
This difference is unfortunate be-
cause of the fact that the conference
is now approaching the consideration
of really crucial and delicate terrltor-
ial and other questions and mutual
confidence for their amicable soiu-
ton.
! It is not denied that the British
Admiralty holds strongly to the view
| that the German fleet should be des-
| troyed, but as this matter has not
+ vet been discussed by the conference
the case for and against the proposal
has not been stated nor have the
possibilities of compromise been ex-
| plored.
The display of feeling is therefore
regarded as regrettably premature
and not of good omen, and the return
/ of Premier Lloyd George and Presi-
dent Wilson is awaited impatiently.
The small Powers or as they are of
fcially designated, "the Powers with
limited interests" have also been
taking matters into their own hands
They were allotted five places or
each of the new economic and finan-
cial commissions, while the larger
Powers gave themselves ten places
| in accordance with preceding deci-
sions. Objection to this arrangement
came from the small Powers. AS {
mark of disapproval they at frs
voted to make no nominations at all
but finally they nominated ten mem
bers for each commission in order
to bring their protest before the bu
reau.
/ AS the supreme purpose now is t
promote the rapid despatch of busi
ness before these commissions, tn
bureau is not likely to yield to th'
new demand. Refusal will probabl.
be based on precedent and in simple
justice, for the interests of the small
Powers do not entitle them to equa
representation with the "Big Five
The situation furnishes proof of fh'
need of strong hand to pull the con
ference together without delay.