The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-21

IN SAAN o. AAoN 10 AAAANN AAN ~
ton for the rescue Of the sister be-
cause they are hampered by the rules
the cause of Anglo American friend
ship.
British statesmen, however, saw
clearly that the league Of nations idea
that no peace of Cancellation was pos
sible, because they knew their Europe
they knew their own people, the
French people, and their Italian people
would consent to permit Germany
to escape from the war unscratched to
resume the old attacks while the ma
tions attacked by Germany were left
ruined and bankrupt, What they ex-
pected was that as the league OF ma
tons project became more and more
potently Elusive, Anglo-American as
soclates extended to include 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 policy of interest If not of
solved covenants. The league of ma
tons thus from the very outset meant
for Ehe British an Anglo-French-
American alliance.
The French on their part began very
boldly. Like George Washington, NJ.
Clemenceau was incapable Of telling a
lie, n unlike a wise diplomat he had
to blupt out the truth-the result was,
as / have said, instant estrangement
between France and the United states,
as represented by Mr.. Wilson, and a
very unfortunate period of disappoint-
ment. Frenchmen would not and could
not believe in the league of nations,
with the memory of old and recent
German invasion and de~vastations in
their minds. Moreover they knew-and
1t gave them furious rage--that their
allies across the channel did not be-
lieve in the league Of nations, and they
felt they were being abandoned by their
British friends, whereas in their main
they were the victims Of their own
logic.
At a certain moment, this situation
was acute for the French saw the
British with Mr.. Wilson's consent ac-
curing all the German colonies, the
German fleets, Turkish provinces. while
their far more smodeSt. demands such
as the claim upon the Saar coal basin
were denied by Mr.. Wilson, and their
Syrian aspirations, at least as legiti~
mate as British ~pretensions In Meso-
potamia, violently opposed by American
and British statesmen, This was the
situation in the first stage of the peace
conference. 1t this period Mr.. Wilson,
with British help, framed the covenant
of the league of nations, with British
aid excluded. French amendments de-
signed to give France security, and
Japanese changes drafted to remove the
stigma Of race i~nferiority. Then Mr..
Wilson returned to the United States.
So far the league of nations had been
the center of European as well as
American discussion, but at this precise
moment the whole situation changed,
Britain Changes.
With the presidents departure, the
peace conference turned from the
league of nations. to the material prob
lens, 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 financial claims. Moreover, she
had secret treaties alike with France,
support her allies claims, and even
when these claims conflicted with the
IA points and insured the impossibility
OF making a peace of Cancellation.
AS a consequence, when Mr., Wilson
returned he found himself in the pres
ence of Europe. Europe had given him
his league of nations; it was prepared
political situation in America de-
manded; but in return it now asked Of
him his assent to the material and
practical conditions which had taken
shape in his absence. Above all, they
demanded that he should subscribe to
| the European idea of German RESPONSE
bility on the financial side, and to the
provisions made in the secret treaties.
But these European demands, legiti-
mate, justified approval, since If they
were not satisfied France was ruined,
Britain gravely wounded, Italy left with
her own ~nationalities unsatisfied. abol-
ished all hope of a peace of consultation.
Germany, after these terms had been
imposed, was bound to be crippled,
sullen, resentful. She was bound to
plan new wars and harbor alk old re-
sentiments. While the Jugo Slavs, the
Greeks and the Chinese were equally
certain to resist the decisions of the
peace conference. y
In this situation Mr.. Wilson had tc
choose; he might retire from the peace
conference. he might remain rigidly
faithful to his IA pounts n his dream
Of a peace of consultation. But retire
ment meant the collapse of the whole
still unborn league of nations. and II
meant in addition political difficulties
at home which require no emphasis
That he debated doing this-his sudder
call for the George Washington clearly
indicates. That he found the threat OF
going was alone unavailable, the Sc
quence OF events clearly indicate
demonstrated.
Mr.. Wilson then faced the great
crisis. To go meant the ruin of the
league Of nations, the success at home
Of his political enemies the confusion
of the allied cause. But to stay meant
to consent to a European peace, to &C.
cept terms out of accord with his pro
gram, of a peace of conciliation-i
meant to lose the commanding role II
the peace conference.