South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-05
BALANCES OF POWER" AND SPHERES
OF INFLUENCE"-AND THE POSSIBLE
AWAKENING OF THE MORNING AFTER

Americansm. the Italians like the French and
the English will pretty thoroughly understand him
when leaves.
II Is splendid the welcome and tribute that the al
lied governments. and people. paying this nation
in the person Of its president That is the way he
lie is there as the spokesman Of the American peo-
pie and nation. American politics and partisan cop
erheadism as displayed in the United states senate,
seeking TO disoredit the nation wherever ne
goes to the contrary Notwithstanding.
still that it Is al quite like the banquet OF the
night before evel-headed Americans will readily see
The president hopes TO do or can hope
= do viii pave the way for the after dinner
performance. of the overtures are only
a promise. They are guarantee Of what is to come
succeeding acts OF the play.
The assurance Of David Lloyd George that there
IS complete agreement between Great Britain and the
United states ON the basic principles Of peace which
VIII come conference. is good. but never
theIess it IS common sense. Dessmsm. which points
cut that basic principles" freedom. fairness. jus
tice and self-deterninaton to which no government
ia the present the world. even Germany.
can fail TO pretend TO subscribe.
Neither is that expression in doubtfulness Of
rtains sincerity-but freedom. Justice fairness. etc.
are relative terms depending on the point OF view.
Obviously it is still in application OF these basic
principles" to problems of peace arrange
rent and adjustment that the real test of harmony
come.
It is in the OF the fixing Of damages.
the selintation OF national developments spheres of
influence and as Premier Clemenceau OF France has
finally sprung It, balance OF power that convnc-
ing proofs OF accord must be furnished.
The sudden clash between the president and French
premier over that phrase balance of power, be
taken as an the that is possible to
break when the the tables is actually
taken up Clemenceau has given assurances that
the basic principles OF peace advanced by the presi-
dent are satisfactory to the French" but when he
began TO particularize face was developed
His idea of the of the old system-mean-
ing balance Of power"-through the continuation of
the entente with Italy addenda.
as the League OF Nations TO Enforce Peace, was quite
instantly by Prest Wilson then speaking in
Manchester hall. and in uncertain terms so far as
the United States is concerned.
THE United States will join combination of
powers which is not a combination of US" said
the president, and his country having served just
recently as the balance power" in ending great
war which balance at the moment of entrance
against France and England and Italy. the
tente-and favorable to the central powers-he no
doubt felt that right Of such expression
All America ought to applaud A League of Ma
lions consisting France Great Britain, Italy. and
the United States the active allies in the world war
earth would eventually another League of Ma
tons made up of the outside powers. pitted against
them-the same condition that in 1914 brought the
triple alliance and the entente to blows.
But suppose say the critics that the other big pow
ers the allies who along with now hold the destiny
OF the world in their hands refused to enter such
a world federation the president PROPOSES COM
binaton Of all us?" Then, is asserted that we
would be left out in cold and consisting
g{rffaf Fran italy nd
,ibly Japan would be against
So let us speculate for what might
happen in such case Relations a considerable time,
t least would be friendly; present allies would
not soon forget services to them and we. presum-
ably would not forget their and would
not provoke them.-but the world would move on.
Pan-America would probably reality, the
Americans grouping themselves with the United
states Russia If rehabtated. might become at least
moral ally of ours. Germany Austria Hungary
are quantities hard TO reckon with. 1t is easily
cevable OF the new nations arising in Cen
oral Europe would stand with in time OF danger.
There would almost certainly develop balance
n power" with the United States the dominant
member of one group-with the Monroe Doctrine,
peciauy as this half of the world decidedly
vital force.
All this speculation. however is OF little than
theoretical interest likely Britain
and Italy will leave the United States in a position OF
real or possible autagonism. Those know that
our present wealth and already
great as all their own put together. They know that
they need help for their immediate recovery from
wars ravages. and moral support any plans
they undertake for the reconstruction of Europe and
The safety the world. II balance Of power"
Premier Clemeneeau wants he might Is
stn in our hands.
Pres't Wilson has taken the bull By the horns as
II may rash act II may be only a