The sun., 1919-03-20

- whole peace programme, which
they had worked out in the belief
:, that 1t was in accordance with the
desire of their respective constitu.
eneies,
This absolute equalization was
made after the Pichon interview,
which, IN itself, indicates the extent
of the surrender so far as the French
are concerned. ~
- Lord Robert Cecil's capitulatlon
was made in person to the President.
:, What actually went on at these inter-
sfviews Is naturally hidden behind the
diplomatic veil, bu. neutral diplomats
: looking on were quick to observe that
In President Wilson was really rep
resented the power Of the purse, the
:. most powerful factor In this confer
renee. The only purse to-day is the
. Americans. Recognizing that fact
many things become instantly clear
!. here. Also these neutral diplomats
observed France SILVER at the sug.
n gestlon Of American withdrawal from
Europe.
n Changes In Phrascolegy Only.
4 The interview given to the news
paper correspondents by Lord Robert
Cecil, the leading British prepayment
of the League of Nations. might have
| been statement by President Wilson
from Lord Roberts mouth. He said
that the present covenant Of the
league would not be altered substan-
TALLY, the only changes being in
l phraseology. which he admitted was
vague in places, and that II would be
Incorporated In the peace treaty, this
being the view OF the entire British
delegation. 500
4 Lord Roberts statements concern
ing various important questions
which have given the Americans con
4 siderable. uneasiness show how COM
pletely President Wilson and the
British delegation have been exchang.
ing ideas. This Identity Of speech. In
addition to other points, gives striking
Significance to what Lord Robert said
about the Monroe Doctrine, that the
covenant would strengthen and reen-
force the Monroe Doctrine. He
added:
4 IF the view is taken that a water
tight compartment should separate
the United States from the rest of
the world I should regard such q
doctrine as a disaster for the rest of
the world"
styles Opponents Small Minded.
Throughout the interview Lord
1 Robert echoed President Wilson's
4 views stressing Americas duty to
I weakened Europe and asserting that
the covenant practically would no.
l delay the treaty, that the opponents
OF the treaty we're small minded men
and negligible In number and that
there was no. reason why the cove.
nant should be retouched to any con.
siderable extent.
He made also the very important
1 statement that the question of Japa.
nese immigration, which Is the most
threatening cloud at this moment or
1 the horizon Of the Peace Congress and
= may cause the disruption Of the Coun.
eli OF Ten, was an internal problem
and az such had no place In the cove
nant OF the League Of Nations. AL
this shows how completely in agree
ment are the British and President
4 Wilson.
& With Great Britain and France
! agreeing that there shall not be q
7 treaty not including the covenant the
question which is yet unsettled is shall
| the covenant be put through with vir-
I tuaily no discussion and included ir
the preliminary treaty with Germany
or shall the preliminary treaty bt
! abandoned and a general treaty Il
! cover all belligerents be worked out.
I From information The SUN obtained
/ from high dipomatio quarters II ap'
! pears that the Presidents demand fol
this about. face on the part Of the Brit
ish and French Premiers was baset
chiefly upon these grounds:
First-That the original resolution
~ the conference applied TO any
treaty that was signed. and that no
4 preliminary treaty could be drawn
which was not based on the league
covenant, which therefore must be
included.
second--That the political condi-
ton. in America prevented him from
agreeing to any other course. as this
would give strength to his political
adveraries and jeopardize the league
itself.
why Britain Acceded.
The reasons advanced In British cir
l cies why the Presidents wishes had u
be acceded to Sire interesting. They are
First - Because Anglo-American
friendship must be regarded as essen
tIal to world peace and Franco
I American friendship must be re-
garded in the same light.
Second - That Great Britain and
A France must regard Wilson as speak
I ing for the American people. being
unable to go behind his credentials
here, and that they must also take
4 his judgment on American political
conditions. Therefore to have re-
I fused his demand would possibly have
been to imperil Angio-American
4 friendship.
Those are the explanations given To-
what has happened In the last few days
but IN French and British circles Their
are those who privately admit that tn
ice IA very thin and that. Hs1iie ii1 'theor.
Y the President must be accepted as speak
ing the will of America, yet evidence