The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-07
Idealism Slowly Gaining
Ground Against European
Methods Of Diplomacy, at
Peace Says Simonds.
POLITICIANS Evident
BY FRANK n. SlMONDS.
(CSDyT1Ght, 1919. The Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate.)

4 OOIu VI WulCA oAO IA a oOAASO
I&AI essential parts Of peace con-
I2eJSI ference, and either of which
seen outside its proper per-
spective might give total
II inaccurate idea OF the actual condi-
lions. These two forces are tdealism,
which Is slowly but surely modifying
the ambitious appetite and demands OF
the VARIOUS nations and which Is con-
tnbutinx to the creation Of real
league Of nations. which in my 5udg'
ment will have permanent value for
world peace and world understand
Ing and in the second place, old fash
Toned diplomacy with its old object
ives. its ancient, time honored meth
DDS, seeking to do in Paris IN 1919
what It did in Berlin and Vienna IN the
last century.
In the present article I am going to
try to give an example OF the opera
ton of this old fashioned method. Pc
cause I think 1t Is valuable Tor the
American people to understand TINS
chase as It Is, and exactly as 1t Is;
neither exaggerating nor minimizing
It's effect. And am going to try then
10 indicate some of the effects OF this
sort of thing.
Interest In Syria
For a period OF time stretching BACK
to the crusades France has exercised
a certain half-real, half-shadowy pro-
tectorate over the Christians OF the
near east, and particularly those OF
Syria. This has had its pra ctical val
ne. but hand i'll hand with this in the
last ,.ntury and in the present there
has grown up measure OF economic
DEVELOPMENT in Syria--for example
the French railroads and harbor
works at Beyrout. In clear fashion
Syria has been marked as future
field for, French occupation terri.or
.ny and otherwise when turkey
phSud dissolve.
IN 1916 England and France signed
:, treaty. secret then but known gen.
era,ly now, which in substance recog-
nized that France should have in Syria
for the future precisely the status
which England was shaping for her
SELF i'm Mesopo.ania. The language
was perhaps yelled but the purpose
cf the document was unmistakeable.
Somewhat later tho British entered
into a sesocd treaCy with the sheriH
of Mecca, now known as King OF the
Hediaz, by which Great Britain recog
nized the sovereignty Of the King OF
the Hedjaz, over the Arabian east, In
cluding Syria, already promised to
France. On evidence of this agree
ment the King of the Hedjaz joined
the allies and contributed material, II
not decisive aid in Allenby's great cam
paign Of last year.
Pleads for Arabs
In this situation the British position
became difficult. The French demand
ed that the agreement of 1916 become
effective. The King of the HedJai
with equal emphasis called attention
to the British commitment to him, ant
sent his son Prince Feissel to Paris
accompanied by a very tnterestint
young British officer. Colonel Law
renee, in some respects one OF TIT
most attractive figures in Paris today
to plead the cause of the Arabs.
Meantime England and France II
November Of last year uttered join
agreement, pledging themselves not t.
annex territory in the near East; bu
this meant much or nothing as on
chose to take the French or Britisl
view What is of importance is tn
fact that British policy has decide
to support this Arab commitment an
has pitched itself formally on tha
part of Mr.. Wilson's fourteen point
which demands self-determination TO
small races and peoples.
Not Anxious for France
Now the fact Of the case seems t
be that, left to themselves, the mt
jority of the Syrian people would nc
choose a French protectorate. The
would seek some form OF indepent
ence guaranteed by one or more pr'
tecting nations. Therefore 1t Will b
seen that the present British polio.
which would exclude France frol
Syria. falls in with President Wilson
policy; but, for the French at leas
there Is suggestion that the Pre-
ident's principles have pulled the Bri
ish out OF bad hole, and bid fair
exclude the French from Syria.
Given this material to work upo,
It is easy to see how the profession
diplomats Of the old order would bu
row and dig and mine and manipulate
and they have done 1t, and from or
quarter therefore. we have an insis
ent whisper that the French have b
come chauvinistio. and from othe
still. the relatively old whisper tn
the British have remained hypocritics
Raises Doubts
And out of exactly this sort of mi
ture grows the impression one gathe
over and over again in the Americ:
Press-tlfat the Paris conference
after all gathering place Of the o
reactionary apotiators and diploma
who behind a facade of idealism, a
doing the same old thing in the san
old way. This after all is a part
the Syrian mess.
But It Is worth recalling again th
the Paris conference Is very like
American political convention-th
just as all party bosses used to gath
and still do gather. just as polite
barsains Of machine character a
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