The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-04-10
WHO is DELAYING PEACE
FRANCE OR PRESIDENT WILSON
Administration Propaganda Against
France ArOuses Criticism

of the delay in making peace to the
shoulders of France is arousing I'M
favorable comment in all quarters
except those avowedly pro-adminis-
tration.
All that France is asking is guar
antees that she will be protected
from future attacks from Germany.
Why France should be blamed for
delaying any peace which does not
afford these guarantees is not clear
to Tair minded people. 1t is asked.
On the other hand if the President
who admittedly is the whole Amer
lean delegation at Paris insots." as
authority goes is anxious for peace
why he doesn't agree to give T'scce
her guarantees and bring Ge".Hany
to terms. In short, is France to
blame for wanting protection and
peace guaranteed to her, or is Wilson
to blame for not wishing to guar
antee France protection and peace?
In commenting upon this phase of
peace postponement the Washington
Post in a recent issue, said editor
tally:
"But the victorious peoples are
getting into an ugly mood because
of the unnecessary and costly strain
that is put upon them by the failure
of their agents to harvest the fruits
of victory.
France and England and Italy are
hard pressed. They cannot return to
production moment too soon. Their
normal life is suspended while the
peace delegates prolong the fruitless
discussion in Paris.
France must have equipment
with which to keep her people at
work.
England must have all doubt re-
moved regarding resumption of
war, so that her people may return to
peace work.
"Italy is keeping up large army
under the threat Of war by the i'm
perialistic clique that controls Jugo-
slavia. Some of these Jugoslavs were
lately allied with the enemy. Only
few weeks ago a Jugoslav, Gen.
Boroevic, was commander-in-chief of
the Hapsburg armies that tore at
Italy's throat He did not join the
Allies.
''As for the United States. it is un-
deniable that its people are becoming
resentful of the intrusion of the
American delegates between the VIC
tOriOus European nations and the
vanquished enemy.
IF France is to recover, Germany
must pay. Why does American inter-
pose obstacles TO the recovery of
France? That is what many Amer
leans ask.
''Why, does America deny to Italy
that which belongs to Italy; that
which is indisputable to the exist
ence of a free and independent
Italy?
"Why does America threaten to
build a tremendous navy, greater
then Britain's at a time when CO.
operation and goodwill between the
two English-speaking nations is
highly desirable if not indispensable
to the worlds welfare?
The evnts of the last six months
including the elections of November
5, prove that this American inter-
ference with France, England and
Italy is not an expression of the will
OF the people, but is directly contrary
to their will. How long can the agent
go contrary to his masters will be-
fore he viii be called to account?
"a lot of breath is wasted on the
statement that the difficulties of
making peace are so great as to be
almost insuperable. We all know
better. We all know that the worst
difficulties have been manufactured.
They are not inherent to the Euro
pean situation. If the difficulties
that have been deliberately thrust
into the negotiations were brushed
aside, the enemy could be shackled
and bolshevism could be distinguished
in short order. What is needed is
not a Hamlet, full of dreams. to be
or not to be- but Foch, inspired
by the genius of freedom.
"The victory will not be frittered
away. The cost of it was too great,
and the fruits of it are too badly
needed by the free peoples of the
world. They will act if their agents
fail to act. They will act through
new agents, men of action and force.
In those new hands the nations will
place the forces that have saved the
world. Doubt and feebleness will be
blown to atoms, along with Prus-
sianism and bolshevism.
who is so disturbed that he ex-
poets the free men of the world to