New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-02
ALI London Is
Keen to Know
Wilson Plans
Speculates OH Whether He
Will Press Aims to Limit
or Steer Middle Course

Netc \ ors Tribug.e
turopcdn bureau
LONDON, Jan. 1.-President Wilson S
departure, coupled with his Manchester
speech and the pronouncements Of
Ciemenceau and Pichon in the French
Chamber of Deputies the same day on
league OF nations, has set ell Lon
don talking It is still discussing the
question day with an animation
rarely cqualled.
The diversity of opinion seems to
daunt the majority. In a matter so
difficult to analyze it might be ad-
visable to state the opinions of the
official heads, as opposed to the po-
litical here, regarding Mr.. Wilson's
visit.
Wilson Gained Confidence
All assure me that the President
gained certain amount of confidence
by adopting a tone Of extreme con-
cliation. His suggestions were gem
eral, while on the other hand he found
the British much farther advanced in
the formulation Of carefully detailed
plans.
The fact that this administrative
element, always worthy of considers-
ton, echoed the Premier's statement of
perfect agreement.
The President. therefore, merely ac-
quiesced in Brtan's insistence upon
her views Of freedom of the seas as
opposed to Gcrmany's in the same way
that he acknowledged the claim of
France to greater security against ag-
gression than hitherto seemed neces-
sary while he was 5000 miles away,
or whether France and Great Britain
accepted, simply and entirely. his views
regarding a league OF nations
Views Still Are Apart
The latter is impossible, because, on
one hand, Great Britain holds views
more advanced than his regarding the
league, while Clemenceau appears to
be dubious Of the practicability of the
scheme and prefers to put his trust
IN the old idea Of balance of power,
which is fatty contradictory of Mr..
Wilson's sentence at Manchester:
"lf the future had nothing for US but
a new attempt to keep the world in
a right poise by balance of power
the United States would take no in
terest, because she will not join a COM
bination of powers which is not COM
bination OF all of u.s."
There remains a middle road which
IS suggested as a possible solution Of
a meeting place for divergent ideas
Undoubtedly from Lloyd Georges state
ment of an agreement and Pichon's
remark in the Paris Chamber, "The
government has accepted the principle
of league of nations and will work
for its effective realization" the Presi-
dent finds that the idea of league, as
the ultimate ideal, meets eager accept
ance among war worn people gener-
ally, although they consider that, at
the moment when one nation stands as
4 criminal outcast, its application is
d difficult
For Quadruple Alliance
Meanwhile, although approving the
ultimate aim. they feel that the best
beginning is the perpetuation of the
league already existing, namely: the
alliance Of the English speaking .peo-
pies with France and Italy, which,
while it maintains its present solidar-
ity, presents an overwhelming balance
of power in favor of right and against
wanton aggression, and is unlikely to
enter extensive commitments otherwise.
If the Prcsiden. is able to achieve
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