New-York tribune., 1919-03-26
Gloom Spreads
As Early Peace
Hope Vanishes
Continued from page I

incidentally, forms Ttaly's chief COM
plant against the Americans, at whose
instance peace negotiations with Ger
many were taken up. Italy maintains
a sort Of neutral attitude in the dis
cussion Of the policy to be adopted
toward Germany.
1taly's alarm at the possible con-
sequences of the delay in the peace
negotiations with the remnants Of .he
Austro- Hungarian Empire caused the
Italians to declare they would refuse
to sign peace with Germany only. The
reason for the failure to conclude a
quick peace may be made to appear
as the inability of the Allies to agree
among themselves over the distribu-
tion Of the spoils of war. Certain
Americans in official positions here
take that view, but, if such is ac-
cepted in America, it will be unfortu-
nate and unfair.
Wilson Seems to Hold
The Winning Cards
M. Clemenceau and Marshal Foch
may lack the idealism and broad in
ternational vision. of President Wilson,
but to charge that they are imperial
lists seems to many American obser-
ers outside Of the Hotel Crillon to be
inspired by an over-ardent desire of
the Presidents supporters to achieve
a spectacular political victory for their
chief.
Both M. Clemenceau and Mr.. Wilson
desire the quick conclusion of peace,
but, despite statements to the con-
trary, the real cause Of the delay is
no longer the covenant of the league
OF nations, but the conflict because
of the two statesmen's respective view
points. The viewpoint of one is nec-
essarily practical and national, because
Of the hard necessities of France, while
the viewpoint Of the other is altruistic
and international. due to Americas
distant security.
The game is played, on one side, by
an old man holding few cards and a
few borrowed chips, and on the other by
the most powerful statesman the world
has, perhaps, ever produced, powerful
because of the courage with which he
plays his game, as none other of his
countrymen ever had the audacity to
undertake the game Mr.. Wilson is
playing. But Mr.. Wilson is backed
by the control he holds over Ameri-
can food supplies and money, upon
which every nation in Europe is now
depending.
Wilson's Dictatorial
Methods Disliked
The chances are that Mr.. Wilson
will win the game, although not as
quickly as he hopes. Steadily he is
breaking down his opponents, but in
doing so, it is felt in some quarters
here, he will lose the prize that all men
who sit around the green baize table
at the Quai d'Orsay most ardently de-
sire, namely, the practical success of
the league of nations.
There is great irritation here against
the dictatorial methods of Mr.. Wilson
and much sympathy for the venerable
French statesman who rallied his coun-
try in her hour Of defeat, when she was
bled white, and when German propa-
ganda behind her lines was beginning
to affect her suffering people in the
way in which it had affected Russia.
1t was Clemenceau who held France
to the muzzles of the German guns
until the American troops arrived and
saved her. But in recent weeks France
has gone so far-judging = the at
titude of the French press-as to saw
that the American soldiers saved her.
but that the American President NAV
deprive her of her future defence
against an enemy which she may never
again be strong enough to fight. To
put it bluntly, France desires to GRIN
pie Germany or re-create Russia. to
neither of which Mr.. Wilson wants tn
agree.
Can M. Clemenccau and Mr.. Wilson
reconcile their views within the COM
ing week?