South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-19
FRANCE APPEARS TAKING ON HER AN
GENT NAPOLEONICA AMBITIONS.


FRANCE. flushed with a victory which is by no
= means all hers appears to be wanting TO re-
u sumo her Napoleonc airs making that victory
one OF conquest for her. this without any
too great regard the good faith that is due from
the allies TO the world II they TO retain world
confidence
Premier Clemenceau. speaking for France. or al
ostensiby particularly when backed as he Is
by Marshal Foch. seems quite dissatisfied and IN
willing TO accept fulfill the of the armistce
As the Germans demanding Frances pound of
aesh" he needs TO remember the demurrer of Porta.
shyIock. wishes to assume that role. may
haze his pound Of flesh. yes. but he must not draw
'one drop OF blood"
France is entitled the return Of Asace-Lorraine
That Is understood by Germany. France is also
entitled 70 certain ndemnes. replacements and re-
construction assistance. but when she comes to de-
handing other German territory back TO the Rhine.
hat is eonquest and annexation of
only ante-bellum German territory. but also people
Of German language, and OF German tastes and habits
a transfer OF sovereignty and a subjugaton of an
unwilling people. quite after the same manner as has
kept the AIsace-Lorraine problem alive since 1871.
Prest Wilson is quite right. it, reputed he
the fourteen peace principles which
were the basis of Germanys acceptance of the arms
tce and this though take stand against
France our ally in doing So Ordinarily would
say it is contrary o chivalry, for the tri-
umphant to assume the role of tyrant over the van
quished There but of the presidents four
teen principles which the allies failed bat
left open to discussion when the armistice terms
signed that the freedom of the seas"
All through those peace principles ran a vein of
protest against any readjusment of territorial
boundaries that nationality.
The application made to Russia. to Poland, to
Hungary. Turkey. Italy and the Balkans,
and that il should apply to France, England ard
the rest, would show a Partially that would justly
render principle inapplicable anywhere The pur-
pose peace conference, is to plan just peace,
and not only a just a satisfactory peace.
that future wars will be less likely germinate
without league nations enforce it-certainy
enforcible with such league.
France knows or ought o know
that the people OF Alsace and Lorraine have always
held toward Germans a foreign people. forci-
bly, subjected to German rule. Well there is as much
nature in German there is in French
man. perhaps a cruder sort. but if all the more
dangerous That acquired German territory. back to
Rhine" would quite certainly become hotbed OF
sedition, and eventually rebellion; something which.
would SEEM France should be anxious to get rid
Of rather than to acquire.
And if France insists then the United States need
no longer be materially interested in policing OF
the territory the Rhine which France wants to
acquire. The story which Premier Clemenceau has
taken such exception. temporarily suppress 1t
through his OF his wanted "se
cret diplomacy undoubtedly "abominably false
as the president has pronounced it, but if true,
attitude America might be worse. The story
as gathered from rumors about the French chamber
deputies ran that the president threatening
withdraw America from the peace parleys. and the
American army France. II the French attitude
vas continue. We didn't get to France. and neither
are we there now. police Frances territorial
qusitions for her subdue the Hun. and to
tribute our might the ending of all wars. and it
wouldn't do Mr. Clemenceau perhaps. bit of harm
TO get through his head.
America is interested keenly interested in estab-
fishing permanent peace; interested in that
anything else The president is not the sort Of
diplomat indicated by the dispatch above referred
and the idea probably originated in Frenchman's
sense justice; what America might justly
do should Frances Napoleonic ambitions continue We
think president. hitting the pretty
souarely on the head in another way; through his
continued insistence "open covenants of peace
openly arrive at" and that diplomacy shall proceed
always frankly in the public view" Mr.. Clemen-
ea seems TO fear the open conference lest may
be so easy acquire certain things when the whole
world is looking Pres't Wilson is right
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