Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-16
REPUBS FIGHT
LEAGUE, FAVOR
DEFENSE PACT
c. 0. p. Strategy Tends to
Support of u. S.
French Alliance.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

washington, ID. e., July 15.-(EX-
clusive) President Wilson went
back to French territory last night
not by airpIane or dirigible-but
by a motor ride to the French en-
hassy, where he Unexpectedly join
ed the celebration of Bastille day.
1t was the presidents first visit
to any embassy here in a long time.
Furthermore, it was his first ap-
pearance before the foreign diplo-
mats since his return from Europe.
The entire diplomatic corps, in uni
form, was present. Mr. Wilson
was cheered by a company of
about 200 officials and diplomats
who insisted on a speech. The
president talked informally for sew
eral minutes about the relations
between the United States and
France. The speech was not taken
down geographically but those
present say It was a cordial and
impressive tribute to France. Mr..
Wilson referred gratefully to the
help which France gave the strug-
CLING American republic in 1776
and said that it seemed to him July
4 when America won its independ-
ence and July II, 1919, when the
bonds OF oppression which had
menaced the whole world had been
crushed were landmarks in the his
tory Of the world.
Points to Change in Year.
Jules Jusserand, the French am
bassador contrasted the state of
the world year ago and today. He
said that on July IA. 1918 1t was
difficult to predict that within a
year afterward the kaiser would
be overthrown and in exile, that
Germany would be reduced to an
army Of 100000 men and that the
American flag would be floating
over Coblenz.
The French ambassador has just
returned from Europe where he
went in December on the same
ship with President Wilson. An
outburst of applause greeted the
description of his first visit to Ger
man territory when the army Of
occupation had moved into posi-
tion after the armistice.
"As / saw the stars and stripes
Huttering over Coblenz." he said.
''I turned to my wife and exclaim-
ed: "Oh say can you seer"
No Word of Defense Pact.
Not q word was said in any of the
rpeeches concerning the proposed
defensive agreement by which
America and Great Britain would
pledge themselves to come to the
aid of France in the event of un-
provoked aggression by Germany.
The president expects to address
congress especially on the subject.
But sentiment Is already changing
from an attitude of absolute oppo-
gition to the idea of the defensive
agreement to one of receptiveness.
This is partly due to the fact that
none of the presidents supporters
ever explained nor did Mr.. Wilson
see fit to cable explicitly Just what
were the terms or obligations of the
proposed agreement. Offhand many
senator's said they would oppose 1t
because 1t seemed inconsistent with
tho idea of the league of nations to
set up separate arrangements in
side the society of powers. On the
other hand It was not known till |
Mr.. Wilson got back that the de-
fensive agreement was purely a |
temporary measure designed to pro-
tect France until the league of ma
tions could potentially or other !
wise assure the people of France of |
their security. The United States |
would be expected to come to the |
aid of France at any time in the |
next few years when Germany |
might be discovered planning ag-
gression against her neighbor.
Germany Still n Menace.
1t would be a reiteration of the
action of the United States in April. |
1917, for Germany's capacity for |
mischief is not considered by |
France to be by any means ex-
hausted. With the development of
1irgible and airplane sudden in
Easion from the air has given as
much concern to European peoples
ying in geographical proximity as
he menace of large standing armies |
Of other years. France is represent
sd as having a case of nerves" at
present, especially with the Amer
can army OF two million fading
away across the Atlantic and the
British army going across the chan
,ei,
1t is eeHtended by FFenehmen
hat Germany would not hesitate
o wreak revenge upon France If
she felt sure a sudden attack could
De carried to a successful eonciu-