The Washington herald., 1919-01-20
ALLIES TO PUT END
TO WARS BY PARIS
PACT, SAYS VIVIANI
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gress OF this era7 BY what outstand-
ing characteristics do the tasks of the
present differ from the tasks of the
past?
! We cannot refer to the Westpha-
liam Conference OF 164S, nor to that Of
Paris in 1853. nor that Of Berlin in
| 1878. because these conferences have
not left durable imprint upon his
tory. Moreover, this article is not TO
De an abbreviated manual of history.
What is important for US is whether
mankind's ideas have been advancing
or retreating during the past century.
Congress of Vienna.
The only congress before this which
might arrest our attention is the Con-
gress of Vienna, held from November
l. 1914, to June Z. 1915, noted in his
tory for its sumptuous display of off,
clal receptions and by the fact that
while diplomats exchanged views be-
tween dances, Napoleon eluded his
! English watchers, started for Paris
and called France to arms against
Austria, Prussia. Russia and England.
The Vienna congress also is famous
Tor the historical significance Of the
peace treaty signed there. The assem-
| oled diplomats represented only aU-
tocracy which manipulated the map of
Europe like pack of cards
4here was no consultation with the
peoples; no attention was paid to
their aspirations; the trampIed nations
were only human cattle grouped by
the all-powerful will OF emperors be
tWen frontiers within which they must
remain.
To supervise this artificial Europe.
the product Of political fantasy. they
concluded an alliance OF hereditary
kings. among whom the King OF
France was restored. The congress was
therefore. triumphant for the intan-
gIble legitimacy of monarchs diyinely
Consecrated. invisible and supreme,
plously united to maintain moral or
der by force which would crush pro-
testing peoples. Such was the Holy
Alliance.
This tyrannical strangling system
was weakened by the disappearance OF
the Russian Emperor, Alexander 1t
Dor" It's httc. I.Ltl uur.us u,arly
forty years
''@N aAOAillllE WHICH Is uOne 10
shackle the peoples will or hold down
their legitimate aspirations can en-
dure. 1t i possible to build mountains
before the torrent but the torrent IN
dermineS, penetrates and ruins the
work and the mountain cola pses.
Torrent of NatIonaIIties.
Now, what a torrent has pierced
this monstrous formation OF ancient
Europe. 1t was a torrent of nation
aLties. This principal of nationaIi-
ties France had the honor to revive
in 1859 when the French armies
crossed Piedmont to drive back Aus
tria and help Italy found her unity.
Alas, eleven years later the principle
was crushed. France fell under the
conquerOr's heel, AlsaCe and Lor-
raine were wrenched from us.
But let us forget this bad dream
in the face OF respondent reality
1t is on the principle Of nationali-
ties; it is on the right Of the peoples
freely to dispose of themselves. tina
the representatives OF SO many ma
tions are gathered here to make the
peace of the world. 1t is to assure
the triumph of this right.
But it is insufficient to proclaim the
principle. 1t is still more necessary
to establish its consequences. History
Will award to President Wilson the
merit and the honor of having ef
fectively formulated these higher
consequences. Not only for having
proclaimed them are we grateful to
him. Having an idea was well, but
there were different ways Of put
ting it.
What constitutes the import of Mr.
Wilson'S accomplishments is the fact
that he broke with the traditions and
routine OF ancient diplomacy. He did
not await a gathering of the repre-
sentatives OF the nations He did not
even await the end of the war.
The whole world was his audience.
before which. during long month";.
IN immortal pleadings he evoked the
voice Of justice. Peoples were in
formed of his ideas even before
these ideas became known to the
peoples representatives. Since their
rate, the peoples fate was at stake.
1t was indeed proper that they
Should deliberate among themselves.
Thus. the tremendous welcome
which the people of Paris gave your
the tnlnuSlaSIlC Iumult
along the streets through which he
passed. were the expression of graft
tude toward the great citizen who
had known How to address So many
invisible hearts and to stir the most
distant consciences
Wor kof Conference.
1t is therefore, on this basis that
the. Peace Congress meets. The
peoples ought to determine their
own fate.
1t is now possible to give an out
line of the leading principles which
ought to prevail at all discussions:
l. The conference must establish
a peace that will put a seal upon
war.
:. To make popular rights pre-
vail, protecting all from injury.
Flaws in the foundation will spoil
the whole edifcs.