The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-19

III the President. as the Executive
Of the United Sntcs, has given
l France satisfaction to the extent
which the French newspapers have
been allowed to hint, ig his own word
i only, his action certainly will cause
wide discussion In America. involving
entirely new points regarding the au-
I thorlty Of the Executive.
An article in the Temps tonight
lays great stress on the acknowledge
ment By Premier Lloyd George that
France was justified in exacting q
guarantee of support from those who
had helped her, pointing out that OH
the same day Lord Robert Cecil had
admitted in the House Of Commons
that the French amendments to the
covenant of the league which were
designed to furnish such guarantees
had been rejected. Consequently
these guarantees, says the Mdtin,
have to be in the nature Of promise
by Great Britain nnd America that
they would go to the help of France
in the event of new attack by Ger
many.
4 France Dfstrustful OF League.
4 Three things seem to be quite clear
!. in this remarkable situation. They
sere: . az.
1. The feint Of ordering the trans
port George Washington to return at
once to France to take the President
: back to America did not result in
! removing the obstacle which France
had placed in the way OF an agree
l ment, which was her insistence
4 upon "a pledge OF support from her
associates in the war in seeing that
Germany kept 10 the treaty.
.. The Presidents attempt to con-
1 vince France that the League or
I Nations would take care Of this
Z failed completely. because the
! French insisted that the methods
\ OF the league. with unanimity rer
I uuired fn 4 tho council, made 1t
worthless as a protective agency
I for her against Germany.
8. Confronted with the impossi-
\ bility Of an agreement, the Presi-
\ dent instead Of carrying out his
. implied threat to leave the con-
ference made an agreement with
I Premier Clemenceau that the
( United States would support
France. conditional upon approval
by the Senate, despite the fact that
! This, in the eyes OF every nation
represented here, must be accepted
that the league scheme had failed
I OF its original purpose, even in the
i opinion Of it's author.
J. Decision Reached sunday.
It appears now that the crisis o.
the great drama came last Sunday
when the President, before two prac
teal statesmen like Premier Ciemen
lceau and Premier Lloyd George, scep
IDEAL from the FIRST of the league as {
world panacea, agreed to a sort OF al
siiance outside OF the league and sur
rendered the ideal for the practical
The curtain still is lowered on thi
greatest scene Of the conference AM
much only can be conjectured.
After months of negotiation tn
great dominating fact that stared tn
president in the. face, was that tn
League of Nations scheme had beeI
shattered, as these dispatches from
THE beginning predicted It would be, OF
1.-THE rock OF sovereignty. No bette
proof could be given Of its failure thai
the fact that Europe, even America
stands to-day still armed and are no
smaking any plans for disarmament.
As has been pointed out by compe
Stent observers, Poland. Czecho-Slo
Eyakia and Jugo- Slavia have refused I
sground their arms before the Leagu
yoi Nations idea, as they had been eX
pected to do. The United States her
self Is proposing to maintain tn
largest fee. and the largest perma
trent army in her history. Not
single nation appears to be willing I
see her claims adjudged in consonanc
with the league idea or 10 rely upon
for any protection.
other Alliances Probable.
What will follow when the smalle
nations learn definitely of the Franco
American proposed agreement IL bein
asked now. The answer OF many
that olt Europe WIN engage In new al
tiances IN accordance with the Clemer
cea,l idea, already vind.cated, It woul
seem, in the Wilson pledge. To
sure, certain defe nders OF the leagu
point out that there - nothing in I'll
covenant that prohibits such alliance
merely a provision that all agreement
shall be made known. But the fact
that the hackers OF the league believe
that such alliances would be rendert
unnecessary.
: With this denounient another que
don looms up, that of mandatorie
Can n league so weak that allianc,
have to be made to brace It up exc
else its power over these colonies ar
territories without engendering caus
of war? What Is to be the sovereign
y Of these territories?
\ Where the league has failed accor'
ing 10 the best diplomatic experts, is
its lack OF executive power, which
could not have without recognition
SUPER sovereignty. AS an instrume
for peaceful debate 1t still may
some good. but mapdatories invol
the exercise OF executive power, II
pointed out, consequently the Questi'
of manufactures is being taken up nc
with many misgivings.
II Is predicted by many that any q
tempt TO turn the Turks out of Co
stantinople is going to involve tn
region in a religious war which m
spread TO other countries. In thee
the Lea1ue ofeNations will hold exec