The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-19

the change may bring real and wide
spread disappointment in Europe. The
desire for some sort Of preliminary
arrangement which should at least
make a real beginning In peace con-
ditions and makeNlt promptly was al
most i~ncalculable. But II the desire is
universal, recognition OF the necessity
Of preserving the good Will OF Amer
lea Is quite as generally existent,
neither Lloyd George nor Clemenceau
could afford to take issue over a aues-
ton In which the president Of the United
States manifested an inflexible deter
mlnation to press his own policy.
Nor Is 1t wise TO conclude that be-
cause there will be general %disappoint-
ment II there Is a further delay, there
will be enduring resentment, On the
contrary, the whole episodes Illustrates
What l have so often attempted to ex-
plain in my dispatches, namely the con
yiction In Europe that at all costs
American wishes should be complied
with, second the conviction hat the
president OF the United States speaks
the win Of America.
Prestige Increased.
The truth is that SO great was the
desire IN Europe for a prompt arrange
ment that not a few doubted the pres
dents course might arouse opposition,
When no opposition was realized, II
was recognized that Mr., Wilson had
pied at the outset, that his prestige
| had been enhanced rather than de-
creased by the events of his American
visit.
Now comes n great question; how
long ID ~postponement Of the prelim
mary peace treaty, to be expected?
am told by the American spokesman
that the league OF nations covenant can
be in shape on Thursday, and that the
whole treaty al be ready for the Ger.
mans on April /. / am told In certain
other quarters that 1t will be May !
before the preliminary treaty Is ready
II the treaty Is ready by April /, the
at least momentarily interrupt British
and French rehabilitation, which can
| not go much further until Germany Is
disarmed, II there be no treaty before
May, II will mean deferring European
hopes for at least five weeks,
One important circumstance Is tht
future course OF Lloyd George. Ht
was to go to England at the end o.
this week; his presence there was re-
quired by conditions growing out o
the miners strike. II he. goes, de-
cisions will necessarily wait upon hi,
return. But at least among Ameri,
ans there is great hope and some ex'
| b'NNHNARi AllRN AO WA sway ~
In sum-, the situation is this. Mr.
Wilson has upset aWbrogram, He ant
his American associates are strivinI
desperately to pull the league Of ma
tions covenant together so that Their
may be no actual delay in the pro
ceedings as n result Of the change II
program, They hope that they will
succeed they now declare that the!
expect 10 succeed, but we cannot We
know whether their hopes will be real
ICED.
The best one can now say ia tina
the American commission expects
preliminary peace which In all import
ant respects Will be the final treat,
OF peace to be signed by April Z
This treaty will contain the oovenan
to the league of nations and no treat,
or armlstice without the covenant
to be signed in the meantime, Thu
Mr.. Wilson will make good his declara
tion In his Now York speech. All that 4
problefnatical now is how long the de
lay incident to the change In program
will be, and the American view Is tina
II viii be inconsiderable.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.