The Farmington times., 1919-02-14

Paris, Feb. 9.-"Whilc | have said
that the war has been won, it would
perhaps be more accurate to say there
is a lull in the Storm" said Georges
Clemenccau, the French Premier, in
the course of an interview with the
Associated Press today. "At least"
he added, at is as well to face square
" all the possibilities"
"Although Germany had been beat
en- militarily and had been largely dis
armed, there still remained" the Pre-
mier pointed out, "a chaotic, but
fruitful Russia from which great help
may be drawn by the Teutons." There
would be danger, he thought, Of ere
opening of a military debate if it
were not for the assurance President
Wilson had voiced recently that when
ever France or any other free people
was menaced the whole world would
be ready to vindicate its liberty" =.
"In the Society of Nations" said
the Premier, "each nation must be
willing to renounce its traditional
aloofness and be willing to employ
the national strength outside its own
country, both in war and in peace
Praises Americans
Premier Clemenceau warmly prais--
ed the help the American troops had
given in winning the war for democ--
racy, and expressed disbelief that
there was a man in the American
Army of Occupation who regretted
that he had fought on the side Of
freedom"
81 lived in the United States in my
young and formative days." said Gle
menceau. "Perhaps, therefore, l
may be indulged to say few words
to our allies on the other side of the
Atlantic. Not by way of advice or
propaganda, but frankly as friend to
friend.
"The friendship between our peo-
pies, which has subsisted for a CEN
tury and half, is very beautiful
thing. The like of it has never ex-
listed for the same length of time be-
tween any other two peoples. The en-
trance of America into the great war
was full of dramatic interest. The
application of nationwide conscrip-
tion without the slightest disturb
ance, the universal self-denial to sup
ply us with food and all our require
ments, the unity of purpose and the
amazing energy of 10000 of people
of so varying and complex a charac-
ter challenged our admiration and
gratitude in such fashion as no one
but ourselves can know.
U. S. Men Fighters
"And the way the American SOL
diers fought! Nothing could have
been finer Inspired by the holiest
ideals; / may say transfgured, they
entered upon their task with all the
determination, all the fervor, all the
spiritual purpose of the old-time cru
saders. They did fine work! France
might have died. She would not have
surrendered. But do not mistake me.
/ do not mean to minimize the i'm
portance of the American 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 history so per-
feet a coordination Of the holy pur-
pose of the righteous minded inhabi-
tants of the earth.
"And now the war is won. The
world is made safe for democracy,
for life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness, as jefferson said in the Ameri-
can Declaration of Independence. And
the future is before us. What has it
in store?
81 am told that some of these gal
liant American soldiers, who lived in
trenches, slept in dugouts and bur-
rowed in the mud in devastated and
war-torn France, when they crossed
the 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 the side Of the numbering
Germans. do not believe it. I am
sure there is no American soldier who
does not recognize that France, the
battlefield of the war, could not give
him the comforts that Germany, un-
devastated, was able to do. ! do not
and will not believe so meanly Of a