Arizona republican., 1919-02-10
PREMIER SEES
 SAFETY IN THE
 NATION LEAGUE
A Lull In the Storm" At Present-Praise for Our Troops and Aid-"Faces All Possibilities"

PARIS. Feb. 9-By the Associated Irossl While I have said that the war has been won it perhaps would lc more accurate Co say that there is a luI in the storm" said Georges D'Cmencc1u. the French premier, in the course uf an interview with the Asso- .iuied Press today. At least" he ad- ded. ".t is as we'll Co face squarely all tho possibilities
 Although Germany had ben beaten muitarily and had been largely dis turned there still remained the premier iointed out a "choatic but fruitful Russia from which great help may be drawn by the Teutons." There would he danger, he thought. of a reopening Of Che military debate if it were not for the assurance President Wilson had voiced recently that whenever France or any other free people was mcnaced the whole world would be ready to viudicate it's liberty
 In the society of nations. said the premier. each nation must be willing to renounce it's traditional aloofness and be willing to employ the national strength outside it's own country, both ln war and in peace.
 
 the help the American troops had given in winning the war for demot- racy.
 Warm Praise For Ysnks
 The friendship between our peoples which has existed for a century and half is a very beautiful thing said the premier in beginning. This cor diality, cemented by our contact dur q ..f, measure hereafter
 The entrance of America into the great war was full of dramatic interest. The application of nationwide con scriptiou without the slightest dis turhance. the universal self denial to supply us with food and all our re- ouiremcnts the unity of purpose and the amazing energy of 10000. 900 Of people of SO varying and complex a character challenged our admiration and gratitude in such fashion as no one but ourselves can know.
 "And tho way the American soldiers fought Nothing could have been finer. Inspired by the holest ideals. I may say. translEured, they entered ou their task with all the determination, an the fervor. an the spiritual pur- pose of the old time crusaders. They did work France might have died. She would not have surrendered. But do not mistake me. do not mean to minimize the importance of the Amer ican military aid nor of the American Red Cross nor of the Salvation Army, nor any of the helpful agencies. There never has been in all the worlds his- tory so perfect a coordination of the holy purpose of the righteous minded inhabitants of the earth.
 "I am told that some of these gall lant American soldiers, who lived in trenches. slept in dugouts and bur rowed lu the mud in devastated and var torn France. when they crossed tho Rhine and In an undevastated land found clean beds and baths. rather regret that they fought on the side Of freedom and would rather have fought on thc side of the murdering Germans do not believe It.
 "t believe there is some criticism that there have been overcharges by the French for food and other things We'll. there are things Co be said about that First. for many years, the Amer jeans have been coming to Europe and with abundant means and great gen erosity have been spelling our people.
 Explain Criticism
 "It is only fair Co say that in every case where the attention of the French government has been brought to a case of cxtortion, an earnest and l think efficient. effort has been made to
 "Throuchout the war our relations with the American army have been most cordial and your treasury officials will assure you | am sure, that there always has been a spirit of generosity on both sides. Any suggestion that we have asked payments for trenches or the burial places of your brave sol sdiors is atrocious. For all future ages the graves of American soldiers will be in the tender and sacred keeping of our grateful people.
 "1 have said that the war is won It would perhaps be more accurate tc say that there is a Hull in the storm.
 Recent disclosures have enabled us to look deeper into the purpose of the enemy than we could heretofore. II was not purely a dream of military domination on the part of Prussia. | was a definite, calculated conspiracy to exterminate France as well indus trially and commercially as in a mill tary sense
 And this fact explains many of tn, activities of the German army whicl we were not able to understand. W, can now see why they stole the ma chinery from our factories, why thel destroyed the coal mines of Lens, wh, there was all the wanton devastation c French territory. even when they wer, in retreat.
 And in this phase of.their war mak ing effort they have not been alto gether unsuccessful. The industrial life of France has been sowrecked tha its resusciation is most difficult, whil Germany has been able to save he factories intact and ready for imme sfsfo efficient OppratiOn ''. .A2G~s 'A ;. -i