Evening star., 1919-03-05
BY FRANK H. sIMONDs.

PARIS, March s.-There is probably
no more difficult problem than the en-
deavor to represent to Americans ac-
curately European views at the pres
ent time on American political con-
dftions. Probably at no time since
America entered the war has Euro
pean attention been to such an ex-
tent concentrated on american do
nestle politics. and certainly not
even IN the period before Ne entered
the war were these American political
conditions less understood in Europe.
At bottom this failure accurately to
appraise the situation in America
arises from the fact that Europe has
accepted Mr.. Wilson without reser-
walton as an authorized and qualified
spokesman of the whole of the United
understood here is what President
Wilson says in the Paris conference.
In English and French politics alike
the defeat of the prime minister on
any larger question of policy means
the fall of the ministry and change
of political power. The fact that, fol-
lowing President Wilson's defeat in
the November election, there was no
change in America has been naturally
accepted here, where a knowledge OF
our peculiar institutions is relatively
slight, as proof that only domestic
questions were involved in that cleo
ton and that the President remains
the spokesman for the American peo-
pie with their complete approval in
all foreign matters. When President
Wilson decided to come to Europe all
the allied nations had in their turn to
decide whether or not the President
should be received as an ambassador
of all America. They decided to ac-
cept him as sSch. They have listened
to every word that he has spoken in
matters of policy with exactly that
attention. that consideration, which
flows from an unqualified acceptance
of Mr.. Wilson in such role.
Now, it is essential to recognize
what the position of America in Eq
rope is today. American aid on the
military side is realized everywhere
to have been the decisive factor in
winning the war. American contribu-
tions to the feeding of millions of
people in Belgium. in northern France
and in eastern and southern Europe
have meant the difference between
starvation and existence. There are
literally millions of people alive in
Europe who owe their existence Who'll
ly to America. For the future the lit
tie people of the large countries and
the people, large and small. of the lit
tie countries all turn their eyes to-
ward America as the one solid ele-
ment of hope in world otherwise
somber and despairing. Admiration,
gratitude, hope-aU three emotions
flow from American service in Eu-
rope, and President Wilson's welcome
to Europe was a natural and spon-
taneous expression on the part of
of q nf hat, IN
ward the country that had saved
them in the past and to whom they
turn now for future deliverance.
Europe Fears U. S. May Desert Her.
To discriminate between Mr.. Will
son as President of the United States
and, as such, the representative of
his country in Paris, and President
Wilson leader of a political party
at home was a thing totally beyond
the capacity of the European peo-
pies. To, them Mr.. Wilson and the
United states mean the same thing,
and | cannot adequately describe the
degree of apprehension and dismay
which recent political events in the
United States have occasioned. And
this dismay arises primarily out of
feeling that America as a whole
may desert Europe, may leave mil
lions it has temporarily saved TO per
manent misery. The attack upon
President Wilson's league of nations
formula seems to the people of
Europe an attack upon all that Amer
ica means to them, and this is bound
to be so.
For the American in Europe the
attitude and sentiment expressed by
the common peoples of all the allied
nations is thing which at once
awakens pride and humility 1t is
not the flattery of politicians: it is
not even the praise of public men
which impresses; it is. rather, the
simple, unlimited faith of the masses
of the people. On two evenings last
week | attended dinners. one in honor
of Venizelos, the great Greek states
man, and the other presided over
by Take Jonescu, the man who
brought ~Rumania into the war on
the allied side Both made speeches
and each, in a manner which was
impressive, explained what to his
own little people the league of ma
tions meant, with America as force
in that league, force for that JUS
tice and that right of which. for their
countries, America was the living
embodiment.
/ have said and repeat that in my
judgment it is the view of all we'll
informed Americans in Europe that
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