South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-19
EUROPE PBOVES
ACCEPTANCE Of
U.S.LEADERSH|P
Inclusion of League Plan in
Preliminary Treaty Agreed
Upon at Wilson'S
Request.
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS.
Correspondent Ncws-1imcs and As
sOCiated Newspapers


PARIS. March 1S-C Gable TO New
Tork).-In the past three days fol-
lowing the return OF Pres't Wilson.
we have had what under different
circumstances might easily have
been the most serious crisis of the
whole peace conference That
crisis was avoided was due 10 a
single fact. the unshakabIe decision
of the British and French 10 pre-
serve the solidarity OF Anglo-Ameri-
cdn-FrenCh relations at any price.
What happened is simply told
When the president reached Paris
he found program completely ar
ranged by which before March u.
preliminary peace was 10 be made
with Germany. This preliminary
peace TO include military. naval,
economic and geographic terms. II
was 20 be I'm sense preliminary.
hut i'm reality il was 10 be in sub
stance the final peace treaty that the
treaty. the covenant of the League Of
Nations was not 90 appear: 20 this
program the American commission
had practically agreed. There had
been no difference OF opinion. no de
bate The American commissioners
felt that there was not the smallest
Intention Co seek to defeat the
League of Nations ty indirectiou or
-o evade the question even tempor-
.rily
Was Co Help Anglo rCuCh
The single notion of the Paris CON
ference IN preparing the preliminary
reace draft was TO put am end TO the
eeriod of uusettlement 10 give Ger
many something approximating the
terms OF her enemies. 10 give Poland
her western frontiers, TO disarm Ger
many thus 10 permit the completion
of British and French demobilization
which would have been well under
way by April unless Gefmany began
to d.sarm by that time. The best
evidence Of the good faith of the
European nations was the tacit
agreement TO the program by the
American commissioner.
But no sooner had the president
arrived than he almost abruptly
vetoed the program for amy prelim-
mary peace arrangements which did
not include the covenant OF the
League OF Nations. q public state
ment made i'm mis- name ON Saturday
decisively disposed of any question
Of his approval of q preliminary
peace plan unless it, should include
the covenant of the League of Ma
tions
senate Program Blocked
I'm reality. this put en end 20 any
hope of the proposed action. The
president took his position that a
preliminary treaty of peace would
have 20 go To the senate. that if the
senate got this without The League of
Nations covenant included. exactly
the opportunities sought hy the re-
publican majority would be pro-
,ided and his hcht in America
would Pee gravely compromised.
This was the saturday situation
On Sunday there existed the prob
ability of a difference OF opinion
since both the French and British
governments attached very great
value 20 the proposed prompt ac-
ton But. on sunday night the sit
uatiou was ironed out Once more
The British and French accepted Mr.
Wilson's leadership She proposed
program went into the discard.
Here. after all. was dnal dem
onstration of the extent 20 which
roth the British and the French are
rrpuared 10 accept Mr.. Wilson s
vows as the ultimate. accurate ey-
preston OF Americas wishes. BY
Monday morning an Paris knew
that Mr.. wilson had successfully
broken the slate of the peace con
ference.
Covenants Co bc Revised.
The consequences of this dramatic
episode are plain. There viii be nc
ureIiminary peace treaty with Ger
many before April and possibly not
unu MAY. when the president eN-
pect- 20 go back TO America. But
.s Tine latter date ne expects TO have
treaty completed ready 20 submit
20 am extraordinary session OF tn,
senate. which ne intends 20 call fol
Junc t.
tCopyr.ght 1879
KANSAS CITY. Mo-One penny