The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-16
Allies Together 3:
In Viewpoint of
Hun Situation
Feeling in France as to
Uncertainty of German
Profession of Sincerity
In Compliance Wit h
Terms of Armistice AL
layed.
BY Justin McGrafh.

Paris, Feb. fi-~The differences
between the American. English
and French viewpoints which
WERE rather acute early this week
have been composed. However
since these difficulties led Pre-
micr CIemcnccau To appeal direct
To american public opinion to
support tho French view and this
brought threats from American
Headquarters at the Crillon to
! take the peace conference out OF
Paris unless the French propa-
ganda were discontinued i'm
mediateIy, IL Ia well to under
stand just what these differences
were.
/ This understanding may be neces-
sary to a fun comprehension of future
Ievents. The trouble started over the
proposal of the economic council of
the peace conference TO lift the block
ade against Germany in order To per
nit the shipment into that country
and Austria OF foodstuffs to relieve
the starvation conditions particularly
In Austria where the situation Is
most acute.
1t was further proposed to ship
into Germany such amounts OF raw
material as would enable Ger MANY
10 get on her feet again industrialty.
The French saw In these proposals
great injustice to France as we'll as
future menace. The French said In
effect:
What a situation France will face
If this proposal of the economic coun-
Gil In carried out Frances chief In
ciustriai section has been completely
devastated by the Germans. The Ger
mans have removed into their own
country all the machinery of French
industries which they levelled. The
result is that Germany not having
been invaded is In better shape than
ever to recover industriaily on a big
scale while for France IL will be I'M
possible for q long time to make any
start whatever.
Frances Plant
German brought on the war 70
gain commercial power. She lost the
war but IL you permit her to resume
industry under advantage which she
now enjoys she will achieve the OH
feet for which she went TO war. Once
she has gained this object she will be
In a position to start another war and
win IL. She has not yet complied with
the terms of the armisttce, You
should mt least disarn her thoroughly
and make II impossible for her TO re-
sumo war before you permit her to
resume iudustriaiiy."
i The American and British view
point, on the other hand, was thaf
something had to be done TO relieve
conditions in Germany and Austria
in order to avert the complete ruin
of civilization in those lands. Austria
is practically ruined now. Eighty
per cent of infants are dying from
malnutritton.
Conditions In Germany, II was ar
,ued would soon be as bad as they
are In Austria, II something were
mot done TO relieve the situation.
The French reply to this was ina
~ conditions In Germany were as T.
az was stated why doesn't Germany
release her merchant ships to bring
In food ?"
The argument was carried or pro
and con with considerable feeling.
Finally the opposing views were re-
conciled by compromise IT Waa
agreed by America and Great Britain
| hat Germany should be made TO com
Ipiy fully with the terms of the ar
mistice and should he So thoroughly
disarmed that there need be no Tear
| OF a resumption OF war.
Agreement Reached
| II was agreed that Germany should