Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-22
WEDNEsDAY..JANUARY %, 1871
CLEMnENCEAU'S POSITION.

At the peace conference the an
tasonism threatened between Presi-
dent Wilson and Premier Clemenceau
may not materialize. The Philadelphia
Evening Ledger says the character of
Clemenceau must be considered by
any one who tries to appraise the sit
uation at the peace table
"Clemenceau is the bluntest, least
diplomatic, most pugnacious public
man in Europe. His career in French
politics paints his mental portrait.
Always a wreckcr-Only for a short
and feycrlsh period a FESTIVE and in
secure dabbIer in construction. He
has smashed more governments and
served in fewer than any man of his
class. He could never have been a
successful peace premier. He was
only summoned TO the helm as war
premier when his relentless, unpity-
ing, unhesitating tigerlsh' qualities
were imperatively needed to stamp
the LIFE from the snake of reasonable
defeatism.' He is a supreme eynic.
a doubter of the dawn yet the most
passionately patriotic Frenchman and
lover of liberty alive
his frank differences with President
Wilson and would refer to him--half
humorously-as having arrived from
America with elevated thoughts
Naturally, such a man would show a
reluctance to abandon the balance
of-power safeguard. to which he has
been accustomed all his life until the
effectiveness of the new league-of-
nations machine is proved Naturally,
such a man--and such a nation as
France. living on the borders of still
boastful Gcrmany-wOuld cling to the
tested and ever-ready protection Of
alliances until the police power of
the league is manifestly established.
"Clemenceau may not feel quite
safe on the new ice. whether il be
thin or not, away from the ancient
bulwarks of secret diplomacy; but he
has accepted the doctrine of the open
peace conference He may not be
willing to let his alliances lapse, but
he is all for trying league of nations.
lie is sill Clemenceau-he hates by
procisy; but the public policy of his
government lies within the four cor
ners OF the fourteen points.
II is evident that Clemenceau does
not want Germany in a league Of ma
tons He believes that a balance of
power composed of the countries that
have successfully fought the war and
wrested the liberties of the world
from the grasp of the Hun, is league
of nations enough.
But as a matter OF fact. is not bal
ance of power, however carefully We
may erase that name, unacceptable?
If a league of nations is formed, will
not Great Britain, France, Italy and
Japan retain for themselves enough
weight to overbalance all other votes
IN any league of nations that might
be formed?
Win Great Britain enter any league
that is not safeguarded against Ger
man intrigue? Would the United
States, even as now represented att
Paris, stand for any other sort off
league? We have no belief that Pres
ident Wilson would think Of attempt
ing to commit this country to any
thing in which the voice of recu-
perated Berlin government might de
eide what America would do. The
senate of the United States never
would ratify such convention. MOI
future administration would be bound
by such treaty. The people of this
country would not permit it. If such
convention should be signed by the
president, it would become Il scrap
Of paper" and rightly so.