South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-28
BY FRANK III. SIMONDS.
Ncws-Times and Associated News
Pnners CnI1.psnnndpnf.


Ncws-Times and Associated News
Papers Correspondent.
PARIS. Feb. 26.-It would be diff
fcult 10 exaggerate the success Of
Pres't Wilson's first speech at home,
so far as its Paris audience Is con-
cerned. While IL is recognized on all
sides that II was but a beginning
there was a feeling expressed every
where by men Of all walks Of life
that Pres't Wilson had accurately,
forcefully and cOUrageOusIy put be-
fore the American people the con-
ditions in Paris; and it was further
felt that he was lighting in America
10 save all the best possibilities Of
the Paris conference.
In day 10 day reports OF the pro-
ceedings here. the differences Of
opinion which looms up at the mo-
ment. conflicting purposes, and mis-
understandings serve to give an i'm
preston which. however accurate,
is bound TO be misleading; and in 10
single detail is this truer than the
case Of league Of nations.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
SINGLE GUARANTEE.
The simple fact is that despite
cynicism on the part of some states
men. apprehension on the part Of
some representatives OF some Of the
various nations, there is absolutely
common recognition Of the fact that
the league Of nations is the one
single guarantee, not merely against
. 10. FrsHr
but the only possible guarantee
against domestic disorders which
may be very serious in certain cOuI-
tries
Pres't Wilson is absolutely correct
in his diagnosis that the people OF
the world and of the allied nations
demand a league Of nations. both as
a guarantee against a repetition Of
the last war, and as evidence Of
good faith on the part Of their own
rulers.
We have gone through a very
curious transition in the brief period
since Pres't Wilson sailed to Amer
lea. Criticism of certain failures and
certain mistakes Of the president
which were common at that time,
have given place entirely TO an al
most anxious observation of what Is
now 20 take place in America. Pre-
cisely those statesmen who were
seemingly least enthusiastic about
the league OF nations proposition
when il was a matter Of debate
here. now perceive most clearly and
state most frankly that a failure OF
the league of nations fight in Amer
lea will foreshadOw the failure of the
Paris conference on the larger side
LEAGUE MUST
HAVE POWER.
It is settled doctrine here now
that there must be a league Of ma
tons, that. that league of nations
must possess power to protect the
small states. 10 guarantee the world
against a new attack like the Ger
man attack. and above all, by the
very extent of the security II brings,
save the common people of the va
rious countries from additional bur
dens incident to new armament II
Mr.. Wilson is defeated in Amer
lea and comes back here without the
endorsement of the American people
for a real league of nations, without
the consent on the part of American
people to share costs and response
bilities of such a league of nations.
il is not merely that the influence
OF the president or the influence of
America will he lessened in Paris, il
is that the element of hope will in
very large measure be taken away
from masses of the little people in
all the countries Of our common al
lance.
AID NEEDED TO