New-York tribune., 1919-04-10
The Battle of Paris

Robust and seasoned must be the in
telligence, stout and frm-fiXed the in
telligence, able successfully to resist the
series Of seismic shocks transmitted
hither from Paris. The purveyors of
intelligence have seemingly shifted their
gags a little, but, unaccustomed to
speech, their gurgling noises seem those
of dumb man trying to speak. Some
thing has seemingly happened, something
in the nature Of an explosion, but the
pieces have not come down iAA identi
fable form.
Mr. Moore reports to The Tribune that
President Wilson celebrated his uprising
from illness by repudating the oiling
work done by Colonel House in his alb
sence and that the fat is thus sizzling in
the fire again. Surely most disturbing.
If the blameess colonel, IS he glides
over egg shells, is no longer counte-
nanced who can be trusted? Is he also
blind and visioncss? Does there remain,
solitary and alone, but one man who is
unblind, with eyes to his soul? The
picture Of great pcacemaker uppercut-
ting Cemenceau and kicking sidewise at
Lloyd George, while the hair of Orlando
is firmly grasped with two hands, is ia
mliar, but it is poignant to think Of
the mild colonel chased about as foul
and tricky imperialst.
Mr.. Oulahan reports to "The Times"
almost equally grewsome stuff. Discuss
ing at some length the highly dgnifed
question of whether the President is
"blufIing" or not, he reaches the conclu-
sion that he is not-that it is no idle jest
that Josephus has been ordered to send
over the Presidential cutter and to see
that water and biscuit are aboard. Mr.
Oulahan, in the approved oracular man
ner, lets it be known authority un-
stated that the President on his return
may resort to the desperate expcdent of
summoning Congress, prefcrring even it's
society to that of a peace conferences
Mr.. Hills reports more hopefully to
".rhe Sun" Having launched the threat
to quit, the "President to-day apparently
inspired friends to picture the situation
as having improved again" The Four
teen Points have been given another air
ing and every one asked to re-
swear misunderstanding faces solemn
ly straight as they confess the faith that
open covenants of peace should be open
ly arrived at and that in war time as
we'll as in peace time there should be
absolute freedom Of the seas
Mr.. Swopc reports to 'The World"
that "it would be idle to depreciate the
seriousness of the situation," and indi-
Gates that all see the George Washington
in the offing. "The Presidents fighting
spirit he adds, "was never more
aroused than now" and he is resolved to
tolerate no further delay in the accept
ance OF his Interpretation of the Four
teen Points. The President is presented
as more than ever persuaded he is the
only unselfsh and reasonable person TAX
ing part in the deliberations and as HIGH
ly incensed at the intractable spirit dis
played by his fellow conferrces.
In the mean time, while the menaces
are definite enough, there is nothing re-
semDhng statement of what is sought
by our delegation. We hear of the
American demands" but what they are
no one seems to be told-at least not for
transmission of the news to America. The
secrecy is denser than at any time. No
one on this side of the water has riyht
to say he approves or that he disap-
proves Of the Presidents ultimate, for
no. one knows what they are Guesses
can be made, but only guesses.
The spectacle is surely an amazing
one, and the longer it lasts and the more
it is studied amazement increases.