Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-10
WILL AMERICA WITHDRAW

In the light Of recent developments at PariA not Z
few people have been wondering IL the, United States 10
actually likely to withdraw from the peace conference at
Paris. and to negotiate a separate peace with Germany.
1t has been given out that great difficulties have been ex-
perienced in the council within the past few days; that
session after session has been held without any progress,
and that the alignment is such as to render Impossible
progress along the lines which have hitherto seemed prob
able. President Wilson has called for the immediate. re-
turn OF the ship George Washington to a French port,
and her departure for that port has been advanced several
days. The reason for the recall Of the George Washing
ton has not been officially stated, and the world is left
to form its own conclusions as to why this has been done.
At the same time there has been permitted to go out from
Paris the report that unless an agreement is reached
within a few days, President Wilson will abandon the
as hopeless; will withdraw the rest Of the
American delegation. and return home to take such fur
ther steps as may be deemed advisable. It has been sug-
Gested that he might call congress to obtain from that
body authority to enter into separate peace negotiations
with Germany, and doubtless with what remains of Aus
tria, for it is with these two countries that we have been
at war Mr.. Wilson has not heretofore shown a DISPOSE
ton to consult congress when such consultation was not
absolutely necessary. and in the case Of peace negotia-
tons he would have a perfect legal right to withdraw
from the conference at Paris. and to meet with German
and Austrian delegates to formulate separate peace agree
ments. Those agreements. before they could be made ef-
fective in permanent treaties. would have to be confirm
ed by the senate. but that is true also of any arrangement
made at Paris. No consent of congress. however, is
necessary for the mere negotiations Of peace agreements.
The situation presented at Paris furnishes the basis
for all sorts of speculations, and it is improbable that any
official statement with reference to it will be made until
definite and final action has been determined upon. It is
unthinkable that Mr.. Wilson should abandon the confer
ence until he became convinced that the completion OF
its work in bringing about a peace agreement, and an
agreement for a league Of nations which shall render
peace permanently probable, has been rendered utterly
hopeless. While perhaps under the circumstances one
guess is as good as another, it will be suggested that the
recall OF the George Washington to France, and the
statements which have been permitted to go out concern
ing the reasons therefore are intended to reinforce Presi-
dent Wilson'S earnest appeal of a week ago for action.
Immediate and effective. The step has occasionally been
described as a bluff. The term seems to be inappropri-
ate, for by a bluff is usually meant a threat which the
maker has no intention Of carrying out. In that sense we
believe that the term can not be correctly used to de-
scribe the presidents action, but that action may be
taken, and probably has been, with the idea of impressing
not only the delegates to the conference, but European
cure appropriate action Immediately tn, United States
for that purpose are right at hand, lying at anchor in a
French port. That President Wilson hopes that it will not
be necessary to carry out this threat, if threat it can be
called, goes without saying. and it also goes without say
ing that the entire American people are with him in his
earnest desire for prompt settlement. It would be a disas-
ter. impossible. to be described, if this conference were
to break up without having completed its work on a per-
manent and enduring basis.