The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-28
PARIS Discounted
lover STATE OF AFFAIRS
BY N.ABOTH HEDIN.

Paris. Jan 27.--French opinion as
reflected by the Paris press. is be-
coming more and more displeased
with the peace conference. Hotel
proprietors growl because their rooms
are occupied by impecunious steno-
graphers OF delegates of small nations
instead OF newly rich war contrac-
tors. Shopkeepers complain. because
retail trade Is slack. Monied cus-
toners cannot find lodging and the
peace conference personnel needs it's
entire allowance for foods a day In
the case OF the Americans.
The workers are dissatisfied and
threaten strikes because OF the high
cost OF living and delay in the demobil-
ization. and because the peace con
~~ess spent Ho many weeks before
starting actual work. The soldiers
scold because they are kept under
arms after the war. which TO all prac-
teal purposes is over. bankers are
upset because. before resuming bust
ness or the prewar scale they must
make inquiries IN distant lands and
that entails long delays.
Manufacturers are discounted be-
cause the disarmament question keeps
them in suspense. They are uncer-
tain whether the production Of war
materials and supplies is to be con-
tinued. or whether the plants may be
reconstructed for peace demands.
The newspapers are indignant be-
cause the peace congress overrules
their favorite schemes and diplomats
are angry because their anticipa'ions
nre upset by new tangled" ideasI
Labor ia restless because, while wages
decrease, jobs become scarcer and
food costs more than during the war.
Perhaps ii is too much to say that
the novelty of having peace delegates
here has worn Off, but the fact IL
the average Parisien wishes the peace
congress- were held in Halifax
Then there are complaints OF an
other sort. cademicians are angried
by the fact that Clemenceau. wilson
and Lloyd George, speak English In
stead of the formerly prescribed
French. in which language the
negotiations were conducted after The
last war. i.
The congress does not dance yet.
but II begins to take tea" said lie
journal. abiding to tea party given
by Mrs. Wilson.
THE fundamental trouble with the
conference method of work became
clear. before all eyes, when the
decisions regarding Russia and Poland
were taken" writes Auguste Gauvain,
editor of lie Journal des De Bats.
These involve only the beginning
inquiries Thus after two months
have elapsed since the signing OF the
armistice, the associated governments
are still unable to form an opinion
regarding Russian and Polish affairs.
1T is hardly possible to hope that
a preliminary peace will be signed
by the time the final treaty had been
expected
A writer says in Paris Midi. The
peace conference is going from bad
10 worse. After the war with Ger
many, We should have signed peace
with Germany first. But after beat
ing the Germans, we amuse ourselves
by trying to pacify Russia, even the
Bolsheviki, who are accompIices OF
Germany.
After this episode, the conference
win perhaps pay some attention to
the Boches."
Another writer in the same paper
says: THE sGcie V cf m i~r h !, L.
its debut, which is disappointing. We
expected acts: we get words"
Note: This was obviously written
prior to Saturdays adoption of the
league of nations. project by the peace
conference.
An ironicaI editorial in L'Informa-
ton says: The conference will not
recognize any dictatorship, not even
that OF President wilson,
Alfred capus. editor OF lie Figaro
and member Of the Academy writes:
The portion Of the French press
which Is devoted 10 the diffusion oe
B0lshevism, shows prodigous energy
over the discussion of the conference
ReEa<dlnE 6unlia. s5
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