The sun., 1919-04-23
AMBITIONS HINDER
PEACE, SAYS STONE
Associated Press Manager
Tells Of Difficulties in Way
Of Conference.
TELLS MANY ANECDOTES
News Gathering Organization
Spent $4,OOO,OOO for War
Dispatches.

twinkling eyed but rather tired
gentleman with gray hair and a grea,
fund of anecdotes got up at the annual
luncheon Of the Associated Press in the
Waldorf-Astoria yesterday and for
nearly en- hour brought Paris and the
difficulties of the peace settlement nearer
New York than they have been for many
day. He was Melville E. Stone. gen.
eral manager OF the association, just in
AFTER eight days of tossing on a cot In
rolling ship, and glad to be home.
Mr.. Stone has been abroad for months
supervising the work of his news organi-
cation He has rubbed elbows and
chatted with most OF the big men OF
the allied Governments in that time, and
he was bubbling over with stories and
witticisms which portrayed their weak.
nesses and their strength, and holding
very definite views as to the cause OF
the disheartening delay in settling the
peace terms.
The diplomats of Europe, Mr. Stone
says, cannot get away from the old ex-
ploded views of ancient diplomacy, the
feeling that little further acquisition
of land even II 1t will do them no good
is something that must be insisted upon
for the national ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. II
is that thing more than any other, he
believes, which has held up the peace
conference and brought about on many
occasions a seemingly impossible i'm.
passe.
Ambitions Hinder Peace.
He says there is no doubt that the
delegates rave brought to their work 8
sincere and earnest desire to solve the
great problems before them. but that
their efforts have been immeasurably
handicapped by their great national
ambitions.
Mr.. Stone also spoke of the tremen'
dous influence of the Associated Press
as a cementing factor in the development
of this country. which made itself felt
first in the Spanish war soon after the
consolidation of the various Associated
Press agencies. The Northern anC
Southern editors came together anC
found that neither wore horns, he re
marked, and the result of that growth
of understanding vas that when thi
country entered the great war 1t yer
In with unanimity of spirit which
made its influence overwhelming.
He prefaced his remarks by saying
that whatever he said that might conn
within the province of manager o
the Associated Press might come from
the association. but what might seen
to be outside his province should b.
taken as coming from himself. His i'm
pressions of public men abroad wer'
still keen within him and he wante
to tell some OF the things which haC
seemed to HIM illuminating of the
peacemakers.
Lloyd George has a very keen sense
Of humor,' he said land has a great
power for controlling the multitude. Blu,
with this he has a startling indifference
II not ignorance of the larger AFFAIRS OF
nations"
Lloyd Georges Lapses.
Walking with him one day the ques'
ton of the war making power In the
United States was brought up, and 4
was said
"Of course you know the war making
power lies with the Congress"
What" he said, you mean to tel
me that the President of the United
States cannot declare war l neve
heard that before.
And again when the questions o
nan onal ambitions was up, he said
What Is that place that Roumania I!
s. anxious to get? Pennsylvania
Mr. Stone mentioned the difficultie
which had beset the correspondents be
cause of the London censorship ant
then shifted to Italy, where he told o
the ANXIOUS days that beset the italian
Government preceding the last Austrian
drive
When was in Italy the Government
was anxious to have American troop
as a reserve force" he said. They fel
II the Austrians, got through Italy woul
be out of the war. So Gen. Diaz wen
10 see Foch and Pershing. and they coul
not see their way clear 60 give mir
any American troops Then he went t
see Clemenceau, who In his sententiou
way said That is a military question
and l can't answer 1t. You will hav
to see Foch.' He had already seen Focf
About three weeks later the French cap
tured 5000 Austrians on the Frenc
front, and Clemenceau sent the follow
ing telegram to Dlaz;
"'My Dear Gen. Diaz: We have ia
ken 5000 of your Austrian lions as Dris
oners What shall we do with them
Affectionately yours The Tiger.
Compliment for Rathom.
Mr.. Stone referred to Premie
Hughes of Australia, who he said
popularity known in Europe as the job
Rathom of Australia. Mr.. Rathom, ed
tor OF the Providence journal. whic
has been notable during the war for II
stories of German spy activities. locke
up as the eyes OF the room were directe
at him and grinned, Mr.. Hughes, &C
cording to Mr.. Stone. is one of tn
best little long distance takers in TN
world. one who sets his mouth goin
and then goes off and forgets 1t er
tirely," but who nevertheless has bee
very definite force at the Peace Cor
ference.
The peace delegates have brought I
their task a real and sincere desire
solve their great problems said Nj
Stone They feel that the worst oi
fence of the Germans was not the XII
ing of thousands of the best youth c
Europe and the United States, not tn
killing of women and children by thei
ruthless submarine warfare. but tha
the worst was creating world in whic
Il is almost impossible for the living
survive.
'.They want to make recurrence
this impossible. They know recu
renee under the scientific and mechanics
development which war has now reache
might wellnigh mean human annihil'
ton. The Germans hoped the associate
Powers would differ. 1t was the drea
OF the Germans that they could NJ
agree. In principle they have agree
In principle. as Clemenceau told me- w
are at one in all this business
81 do not know whether a League
Nations will work or not I doubt
ANYBODY knows. There Is one thing thi
in this hour gives promise that the fai
IRE of previous alliances may be su
caadad nv something like success, ar