Evening star., 1919-06-22

pedCe VI COuClildtlOn was pOSSlplc, De-
cause they knew their Europe-they
knew their own people, the French peo-
t-ple and the Italian people would never
consent to permit Germany to escape
| from the war unscathed to resume the
| old attacks while the nations attacked
| by Germany were left ruined and bank
| rupt. What they expected was that as
| the league Of nations project became
more and more pofently iifusive Anglo
American association extended to in
| clude France. would become more and
more powerful. until the three nations,
acting together, dominated, first the
peace conference. and later the world,
/ through the medium of a real unity Of
| interest. if not of solved covenants.
| The league of nations thus. from the
very outset, meant for the British an
! Ang To- French American alliance.
The French on their part began very
boldly. Like George Washington. NJ.
| Cfemenceau was incapable Of telling
| lie and, unlike wise diplomat, he had
to biurt out the truth-the result was,
as have said. instant estrangement be-
tween France and the United States, as
represented by MI. Wilson, and a very
unfortunate period of disappointment.
Frenchmen would not and could not be-
lieve in the league of nations, with the
memory of old and recent German in
vasions and devastations in their minds.
Moreover. they knew-and it gave them
furious ragrthat their allies across
OF nations. and they felt they were
being abandoned by their British friends,
whereas in the main they were the vic
Tins Of their own logic.
At a certain moment this situation
was acute, for the French sa W the Brit
ish,- with Mr.. Wilson's consent, ac-
auiring all the German colonies, the
German fleets. Turkish provinces, while
the.r far more modest demands, such as
the claim upon the Saar coal basin, were
1 lan nta6 hEr Mr. tI,At~ x.,.;a
aspirations. at least as legitimate as
British pretentions in Mesopotamia.
violently opposed by American and
British statesmen. This was the situa-
ton in the first stage Of the peace con-
ference. In this period Mr.. Wilson, with
British help. framed the covenant of the
leakue OF nations, with British aid ex-
Guided. French amendments, designed
to give France security, and Japanese
changes drafted to remove the stigma
returned to the United States. So far
the league of nations had been the CEN
ter OF European as well as American
discussion, but at this precise moment
the whole situation changed.
Change at Peace Conference.
With the Presidents departure the
peace conference turned from the league
of nations to the material problems
territorial and economic. And. at this
point British policy necessarily changed.
For Britain, like France and Italy, had
material interests involved Like France
and Italy, she had economic and finan-
cial claims. Moreover, she had secret
treaties alike with France, Japan and
Italy, which bound her to support her
allies claims, and even when these
claims coniiicted with the fourteen
points and insured the impossibility of
making a peace of conciliation.
As consequence when Air. Wilson,
returned he found himself in the pres
ence OF Europe. Europe had given him
bis league Of nations; it was prepared
to. give him such amendments as the
political situation in America demanded;
but IN return 1t now asked Of HIM his
ateent to the mateffAl And practical con-
dN3ons which had taken shape in his
a1ence: Above all: they demanded that
ne should subscribe to the European
IDEA OF German responsibility on the
financial side and to the provisions made
In the secret treaties.
But these European demands, legiti-
mate. justified approval. since IL they
were not satisfied France was ruined.
Britain grayely wounded, italy left with
her own nAtionAIttes unsatislfed. abol-
ished all hope Of a peace, Of conciliation.
Germany after these terms had been
imposed, was bound to be crippled,
sulIen, resentfu. She was bound to
plan new wars and harbor all old re-
sentiments, while the Jugoslays. the
Greeks and the Chinese were equally
certain to resist the decisions OF the
peace conference.
In this situation Mr. Wilson had to
choose: he might retire from the peace
conference. he might, remain rigidly
faithful to hts fourteen points and his
Dream OF peace OF Cancellation. But
retirement meant the collapse of the
whole still unborn league Of nations,
and. II meant in addition political lif-
hcuities at home which require no en-
phasis. That he debated doing this
his sudden call for. tho GeorKe Wash.
ington clearly indicates That he found
the threat Of going was alone dnavail--
aole. the sequence OF events clearly dem
Mr.. Wilson then faced the great crisis.
To 60 meant the ruin Of the league of
nations, the success at home Of his
political enemies. the confusion Of the
aiied cause. But to stay meant to con-
cent to q European peace. to accept
terms out Of accord with his program.
of peace Of conciiiation-it meant to
lose the commanding role in the peace
conference.
President Decides to Stay.
The Presidents decision was to stay.
He believed, he was convinced, that II
a league Of nations were once estab-
/ iished. set In, motion. all else would in
the end resolve itself. Meantime, he
! would try. and he did try, to obtain
! such OBLIGATIONS Of allied claims as
were possible. He continued to fight.
notably In the case OF Fiume, for al
least semblance Of his program-of
| his fourteen points.
| Nevertheless, in the very nature of
appeared The settlement with Gar
many tsrritorially as well as politically.