New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
French Papers
Doubt Security
In New League
Covenant Rouses Little En-.
th"siasm in Paris; Plan
Is Called Nebulous
Close Alliance Foreseen
Socialist Editor Says Pro-
ject Cannot Command Sun.
porf of Peoples Parties

PARlS, Feb. 15.-Comment in repre-
sentative French newspapers on the
constitution of the league of nations
DIS presented IN yesterdays plenary
session of the peace conference reveals
llltlc enthusiasm over the shape the
project has taken. The Figaro" SAYS:
i ne commission, on the initiative Of
its illustrious chairman, President Will
son, wisely decided not to ravish to-
morrow from the eternal and confined
itself to making safe the present. The
mystic society of nations has, then, be-
come league of the five great powers
which beat Germany, and which, hav-
ing conquered, mean to consolidate
both victory and peace. A close alli-
ance win result among the United
States, England, France, Italy and
Japan"
The writer, Alfred Capus, editor Of
the Figaro" says in addition that "thc
future is opened to better settlement,
but that naturally it as yet vague and
nebulOuS."
The "Journal," one of the most wide
ly circulated newspapers here, says:
zation and eternal peace, the French
people cannot lose sight of reality,
and reality is the vicinity Of 10000, 900
humilated Germans shuddering under
merited punishment. 1t is half of
Europe in chaos. When we see evoked,
amid such perspectivcs, the seductive
idea of disarmament it is our duty to
ask plainly, Where are the guarantees
and what is the force which will shell
ter us from the reaction of tragic sur
prise? To these questions careful
the society of nations and the eloquent
speeches made at the conference bring
but one answer: Moral force"
"Pertinax," in the echo de Paris, y
ends long article by saying: ave are
forced to conclude that the twenty six
articles bring us no security. Until they
are changed we can sacrifice nothing of
or means of defence to them"
In the Socialist newspaper "Hu-
manito" Deputy Marcel Cachon writes {:
at is impossible to conceal the i'm
preston of disillusionment that first
examination of the long convention
makes on us. 1t is clear to the dullest
that we are far from President Will
sons first proposals. We find in the
document neither the general spirit Of
President Wilson's messages nor the
necessary clear information as to the
composition of the society and the
role it is to- play. The project cannot
in any way command the support Of
democrats and peoples parties, which
placed such hopes in the idea OF which
Mr. Wilson constituted himself IN elo
quent defender"
"The Fundamental point of the cove
nanS which President Wilson submit
ted to the conference yesterday" writes
Jean Herbctte, political editor of the
"Temps," "is that the nations which
united in the fight for the right will
remain as united to maintain peace as
they were to win the war. Before the
peace prc]iminaries and before the
bond formed by the fraternity of arms
had disappeared, new bond appears.
"For this great boon most of the
credit is due to President Wilson,
whose departure France salutes to-day
and whose return she awaits. Presi-
dent Wilson is not only the sower Of
generous ideas, but he has been a
skilful tactician. Sometimes patient,
sometimes pressing, he is always tena-
cious He was not willing to return to
Washington without carrying with him
the plan of the covenant. We con-
graduate him and we congratulate our
selves"