The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-18
PLEDGE TO FRANCE
STIRS WASHINGTON
Wilson's Reported Assurance
Of Armed Support Not I'm
dersfoOd at Capital.
NOT PRESIDENTS RIGHT
Keeping Of Promise Would
Make Compulsory Military
Service Necessary.
speciai DespefcA TO Tn SEE.

WAsHInGroN, Aprfl 1y.--Reports from
Paris that President Wilson has given
definite assurances Co Premier Clcmen-
cean that the United States will stand
behind France IN the event Of the latter
being attacked aroused keen interest in
Official circles here. However, Acting
Secretary OF State Folk declined pub
iiciy 10 discuss the matter following out
his policy Of letting ali Information about
the Peace Conferenoe come from Paffs.
Official opinion n reserved regarding
the extent to which the President may
have gone In pledg1ng American lives
and American resources to France In
any future war. but the general view is
that the President has at least assured
Clemenceau that America could be
counted upon to help guarantee any
peace pact now drawn up having the
security Of France from aggression as
enc OF its foundations.
President Wilson's whole peace plan.
1t was pointed out. especially the League
of Nations feature, is based on the pre-
sumption that the United States will
stand ever ready to participate in any
| new war which disturbs or threatens to
disturb the I,eace of Europe. The Presi-
dent himself has made II clear that he
| regards II as essential that the peace
now about TO be concluded be guaran-
teed. The object OF the proposed League
OF Nations Ia to guarantee peace and the
| revised covenant shows clearly, officials
explained. that the means Of guarantee
can only be exerted by armaments when
other means fnil.
| The understanding here, however. ia
that Premier Clemenceau has desired
something more definite than this prom
ise or the statement that the United
States would adhere to tho dictates OF
the projected league. Clemenceau has
regarded the league plan as Impractical
and visionary in many respectsL He has
pointed out that In case France were
attacked by a revived Germany the at
tack might succeed and the conflict be
decided before the cumbersome ma
chinery Of the league began to reach de-
cfaons on the military problems In
yoived-
| While the nations composing the
league were debating on what they
would be doing and perhaps seeking
agreement among themselves France
enemy might be laying the country
waste and crushing the French people
under its iron heel.
| The military feature OF the leagu.
plan Clemenceau has pointed out, alse
| 10 the exact opposite Of the unity Of
command" idea which won the war. Tn,
French Premier has therefore taken TIN
stand that some practical means Of ex
tending military aid to France withou
delay must be devised either by tn.
maintenance OF a military force or tn,
establishment of a general star in con
nection with the league. or preferahl,
both Cemenceau's opposition to tn,
league has been based on his conviction
that Frances security was not guar
anteed under It.
No Binding Pledge Possible.
The view here is that President WI
son felt constrained to pledge the Amer
lean people to aid France in the mex
war in order TO win support for the re
vised covenant OF the league and elirni
nate % far as possible Frances misgfv
ings ut this time.
No formal or really binding pledg
could be given by President Wilson be
cause Of the Constitution OF the Unite,
States, which requires ratification by tn
, Senate for any such proposal and whicl
vests the war making power In Congress
1t Is suspected here that the Presiden
may have backed up his ASSURANCE o
aid to Clemenceau. however. by his for
mer assurance that the great majorit,
Of Americans are back OF him and vii
follow his suggestions. Under these cir
cumstances II would be no more neces
|, ssry for the President to consider tn
Congress OF the United States. II is ex
; planned. than II was when he went ahea,
with the frst League OF Nations plar
which usurped the powers Of the Ameri
can legislature.
The Presidents assurances TO Franc
regardless OF the exact form 1t has take
would doubtless greatly affect the Amer
lean military and naval programme.
was explained. II undoubtedly woul
mean the maintenance Of q strong Amer
lean navy and might make universe
: military service here certain. For tn
President TO pledge the American peopl
I to assist France in the next war and a
) the same time advocate complete dis
: armament or the next thing to II, II WI
1 pointed out. are two ingredients OF II
1 general acheme that will NOT Ypix