Evening star., 1919-04-15
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.


tween the two governments has
ceased to exist. AS the result OF
carefully nurtured propaganda IN
France designed to sustain the actions
of the government, the peoples Oh
France, more particularly Paris, have
come to the conclusion that American
influence in the peace conference can
serve no good end, in SO far as per-
petuating French ideals Is concerneu.
The French government before tne
conference began and since 1t mas
been under way has made many
claims for France which have been
deemed extravagant by other worid
delegates, at least claims that coulo
not be reconciled with the theory
that wherever possible all causes Tor
future international str1fe shouio oe
.done away with.
Any move on the part of the con-
ference tending toward the ellmlna-
ton of any fraction of the Frencn
governments program has been Dit
terly resented by the French, and any
restriction upon fulfillment Of all de-
sires has been openly assailed: The
French press, which is Immediately
under the thumb of the government.
and which walks, talks and gestures
at the behest of the French 1orelgh
office, has been made a wonderful In
strument in the hands of the govern
ment propagandists in their enort to
influence the general trend of the
peace conference along the lines or
French governmental theor1es-i.e.,
those which will serve the Ciemen-
ceau imperialistic policy. The reac.
ton against any influence. or set OF
influences opposing full realization OF
the French policy, has been great
1t has been the custom to blame
President Wilson and members of the
American peace delegation. In ract,
it is now popular to do so. AS mat
ter of fact, however, the prestige and
influence Of Premier Lloyd George.
Premier Orlando of Italy and that OF
the Japanese delegation. not to speak
of numerous other smaller nations,
particularly Belgium, have been d.
rected against the far-reaching claims
Of the French. But. as Americas in
f1uence is the most potent in the con-
ference, the French are fastening the
blame for any lack of realization of
nationalistic policies upon the Amer
leans. AS a consequence the feeling
against them grows stronger daily.
Many persons ask:
"And why should France be in the
least curbed from realizing all the
policies which France deems neces-
sary to protect her from future en-
emy incursions, and why should her
reparations be decreased"
The whole situation may be an
swered by one viewpoint which is
prevalent in peace conference circles:
Contrary to popular belief. allied
countries today are demanding that
France receive every penny OF repar-
alton to which she is Justly entitled.
France will be protected through the
International agreements that are to
be the very foundation stones of the
league of nations. But France. will
not be permitted to encroach upon
the theory of 'self-deflnition" Of all
peoples which her territorial policy.
II carried to it's full realization, would
do.
But the point at issue is. France of
today is blaming the United States,
and more particularly the American
peace delegation, for any limitations
that may have been imposed on strict
ly French aspirations. though such
Limitations as already have been
agreed upon have the Endorsement of
the majority of world delegates.
If the French government can swing
the tide of public sentiment against
the Americans by blaming President
Wilson and the American delegation
for failure to realize all announced
claims, cannot. other governments do
likewise?
Will not the Japanese blame Amer
lea for failure to obtain recognition
league of nations? Will not the Bit
terness. sure to follow. be the cause
of discord through the years. even
though the Japanese subscribe to the
league and continue membership
within it. Though possibly bound
against war. the reaction in the Japa-
nese mind If America is held respon-
sible for the apparent snub she has
received undoubtedly will react in all
| fyoa do lot
concord in handling the political
problems of the far east that are GER
tain to come more and more to the
fore.
Should Premier Orlando and Baron
Sonnino, foreign minister, return to
Italy without possession of Fiume
and the whole of the Delmatian
coast, realization of which, the Ital-
ian people have been told is abso-
lutely essential to the welfare of
Italy, and should these italian states
men to protect themselves blame
upon President Wilson or America,
would not the present warm feeling
toward the United States stand a
chance of being materially under
mined? Undoubtedly so.
The same holds good with other
countries of Europe. If Poland, for
instance, does not obtain Danzig out
right with a channel to the sea; If
Rumania does not get the whole of
those Transylvanian regions to
which she declares herself entitled;
II Jugoslovakia does not get F'iume
outright the situation will be the
same.
If European conferees shoulder the
responsible or if they in anywise
strive to shield America or the con-
ference as a whole. then they will
Immediately become the target of
national wrath, or the peace confer
ence itself will be declared a definite
failure with consequent dissatisfac-
tion in all quarters where certain
purely nationalistic aims ARE liable
to be overridden for the sake of the
common cause OF "self-definition of
all peoples"
owing to the many conflicting
claims made by many peoples as to
racial limitations many bitter dis
putes have arisen in Paris and as a
consequence of this any attempt made
by the conference to fix definite
boundaries between these peoples is
certain to stir keenest resentment.
There are sure to be disappointed
hopes-hopes which incidentally have
been manufactured through the me-
dunn of governmental propaganda
agencies. -
placed in position of either admitting
of tho peace conference or placing the
BURDEN Of blame for failure upon the
dominating force in the conference
President Wilson and America.
There is certain to be unending
criticien in any cOnfinpercy What Is