New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
Grave Concern Felt in Paris
Lest Senate Opposition
Will Force Reshaping
Of World Programme
France Takes Precautions
Measures Will Be Planned
To Secure Frontiers i'm
Event of Non-Approval
By Frederick Moore
NeaD York Tribune
Cnc~;oJ CrhJ, Co~,~;~e

Special Cable Service
copyright. 1919. New York Tribune 1nc.)
PARIS, May 10.-Although for the
moment the matters Immediately be-
fore the peace conference are attract
ing the greatest attention-namely, the
settlement with Germany and Italy,
and after that the treaties with Aus
tria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey-a
q question of gravest concern in the
inner circles of the conference is
whether President Wilson, having
effected the shaping of the treaty with
will be able to obtain American ap-
proval of the pledges he has tentatively
given for it wns is svn5 1a1 THAT the unsst
the President has outlined for her
much reshaping of national and inter
national programmes throughout the
world will have to take place.
At first the French spokesman re-
fused to accept Mr.. Wilson's ideas re-
garding frontiers in any respect unless
the British and American governments
were pledged to the future security of
these frontiers, whereupon the Presi-
dent did the best the American Con-
stitution permits-that is to say, he
gave his promise to use his influence
with the Senate on his return to Wash
ington.
French Ready to Act
If this guarantee is not ratified, as
many of the delegates here fear it will
not be, the French government, no mat
ter who may then be premier probably
will take measures to secure the Rhine
frontiers before Germany has time to
recover her military power.
The fact that there will be no Sc
curity for France without the establish
ment of Russia as military or poten-
TALLY military power independent Of
Germany, and the fact that President
Wilson has shown no sign of relent-
ing in an attitude which seemingly
favors the Bolsheviki, are other fac
tors which cause France to doubt the
security afforded by the league of ma
tions, which the President persuaded
them to accept only on conditions
which many of the delegates-not
French alone--doubt he will be able to
fulfil.
The fact that Senator Lodge and
other prominent Americans, according
to cable dispatches received here, al
ready are complaining Of Article X
in the covenant is disconcerting to
both American and Allied statesmen
supporting the league. The delegates
OF the Allied powers, in duelling with
President Wilson, have, much to his
annoyance. at times insisted on shap-
ing the treaty and the covenant with
view to Americas refusal to support
IL.
letter of the covenant, to permit it
to go the way of The Hague Conven-
tlon.
Britain Secured Position
Italy took this view, her delegates
preferring naval control of the Adri-
attic against a possible hostile coali-
tion in Southeastern Europe to the
guarantees promised by the league of
nations.
Although the delegates of the United
Kingdom, both practical and dealistic,
sought league including America, be-
lieving that such a league offered a
secure hope of permanent peace, all
insisted on annexing the adjacent Ger
man colonies. Australia and New
Zealand, for instance, preferred oc-
cupation Of Germany's Pacific islands
south Of the Equator to league guar
antees against possible future expan-
sion by the Japanese southwark.
The Japanese, for their part, be-
3ag unable to persuade the British,
French, Americans and others to re-
tire from their Judgements in China,
and desiring outlets for their rapidly
increasing population, preferred recog-
nltion Of Japan's established position
IN Shantung-which, incidentally, es-
tabiishes her position elsewhere in the
Far East-to pooling Shantung with
the German Pacific islands and other
possessions to come nominally under
control of the league.
Mandate Not Satisfactory
The device of mandate for Shan
tung, like that obtained by the British
colonies for their respective annexa-
tions, did not satisfy the Japanese.
Thus, each of the Allied powers has
insisted on settlements which will serve
as practical solutions, or which can be
converted into such in case the league
fails. All the minor powers have like
TO that possibility.
1t has amazed many observers that
President Wilson, being able to promise
Tor the United States 80 little, never
thelegs insisted with such audacity on
reiegation 10 the league Of the strategic
defences which the various powers re-
quire. Great Britain and other states
have been endeayoring in recent weeks
% obtain from him a statement regard
ing the mandates which many desire
America TO assume-priYnarily for Con-
stantinople - but the President again
cannot pledge the United States, and
the only response TO any OF the appeals
obtained from him has been the inser-
ton in the covenant Of the clause pro
viding that no nation shall be required
70 assume mandate contrary TO it's
will.
Fears that the league may be dcvital-