The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-04
Bernstorff Barred.

Incidentally the American delegates
do not believe that former Ambassador
Bernstorff will be. chosen as the Ger
man delegate. II his name Is proposed
| am assured the American mission
fully intends to make 1t clear that Bern
storffs signature to anything would
be worthless. Germany Is evidently
discussing the league of nations enthu-
siastically, on the expectation that she
will have its advantages soon. But UNI
less economic and financial situation
compels earlier action, Germany will be
on probation a long time before the
family Of nations admits her to a place
OF equality.
This week will be devoted to many
committee meetings, with the expecta-
ton that the committee drafting the
league OF nations, over which President
Wilson has been chosen chairman, will
take the principal part. The conference
thus far has been smooth; indeed, the
general spirit that prevails in Paris Is
a marked change from what prevailed
a month ago, when v iinpateience
as well as unfounded suspicion on the
nature Of the man Wilson, and the ex-
pected opposition which some Amerl-
a n believed certain to come from
European statesmen, gave the whole
situation the aspect iof a mutual easi-
ness.
TTtbluGIlL w llSOn has bCGIl lOhliu Wy
his colleagues to be a practical nego-
tiator, tenacious of principle but prompt
In decision, ever ready with compro-
mise in practical details. Undoubtedly
President Wilson learned that Lloyd
George, Clemenceau and Orlando were
mon with the same Fundamental desire
to see n better era come into the world,
as he has, though not always as san
guine Of the method Of achievement OF
the common goal. On the whole, one
finds that the same Frenchmen who a
month & were not especially pleased
with the press reports OF Wilson'S com
| ing to dictate to European statesmen,
are now saying II would be a great mis-
take for Mr.. Wilson to so homo unless
he returns soon to help continue the ex-
cellent progress made by the famous
council Of ten, which Is really steering
the course of the greatest international
conference in the history OF mankind
Raps Cause Surprise.
Publication here OF brief accounts OF
the debate in the American senate OF
last Saturday opposing the alleged
sending OF American troops to police oc-
cupied portion Of Turkey occasioned
much surprise in the American official
quarters, In the first place the Re-
publican senators evidently have been
misinformed or they have been reading
inaccurate press dispatches because the
official text of the communique issued
a few days ago stated specifically thai
there would be q meeting Of the su-
preme war council to arrange for thu
redistribution of the forces now occu'
| plying portions Of Turkey. Inasmuch al
| America has no troops. in Turkey, The
subject does not concern here In The
| slightest, though, of course. Gen. Bliss
attends all the meetings Of the supreme
| var council, no matter what subjec
Is under discussion. This has been Gus
tomary throughout the war, but Gen
Bliss himself told me that on such mat
tiers as the redistribution Of the forces
inside Turkey he, Of course, has moth
ing to say.
As for the opposition to possible com
mitments OF the American people will
reference to the assumption OF respon
sibilities in future, through the man
datory rule, this is quite another thing
and the American mission has bee
making clear Its belief that the Amer
lean people will be unwilling to ente
such obligations in advance and the.
had better be left free to decide ever
circumstance as II arises as to wheth
err they care to accept or decline man
datory responsibilities, The debate !
the United state senate recalls clearl
senate and the Paris conference seer
to be, while It is true the America
mission has given very little informa
ton to guide correspondents agains
Isuch errors as evidently Influenced tn
recent debate. Nevertheless, It Is fe
In many quarters that the senator
might better have waited to see wheth
er such action actually had been take
or was definitely intended before max
ing 4 protest.
copyright, 1919, by the New York
Evening Post, Inc.)