The Washington herald., 1919-02-19
ALLIES FAILING
To CLINCH CAIN,
vI!IANI ASSERTS
Calls Action of Congress Of
Peoples "Powerless and
Inefficient"
SWIFT ACTION NEEDED
Bolshevism, Social Scourge
of World, Must Be Dealt
With, He Says.
BY RENE VIVIAN
Written for Universal Service.

Written for Un1TcrSnl service
Paris, Feb IS-Perhaps II was Q
mistake on the part OF the allies not
to settle with Germany forthwith
artsr the signing Of the armistice
and postpone. for later arbitration
the lnnumsrahle conflicts which the
world offers
On the Western front We are
ready; France has a right to Alsace-
Lorraine. and she expects favor
able settlement Of the question of
the Saar mining region and recogni-
tion Of her centenary rights to
Syria not to mention indemnities
for the damage she has suffered.
Is il possible to fix the Russian
frontiers while the chaos continues
in that unhappy country? Yet set
tlemCnt with Germany requires
previous settlement OF the Russian
question. II there are negotiations,
10 whom are We to listen as Rus
sia-s spokesmen? So far Bolshe-
visr1 alone has a voice. The others
are silent or protest or hide. Herein
Hes the Crux of the whole problem.
Germany. with diaboIical skill, slim
Ulated BoIshevism in Russia. She
kept il up. morally ard financially. She
continues to do so. Meanwhile, she
threatens the world with this moral
social scouragC. She uses It as her
chief weapon.
Fr0D Dre has too much good sense and
insighr-ProD0T.y in France is too
eqUaI'v e'r7'u I'd. national unity is
too -u0g -rI he popular mind too
wide o.. aa- sharponed by the eN-
-peTterc.. . -1ur ~evolutiOUs briefly.
Fra o. F. ..- cute TO fall into his
trap 90 wf 20 Iii ,-nr. c.
F-. w. r..-. a4r~h The ,si7t'c -ide.
wNr- ..... since he Cu-sia7 ~-Oh-
lem .s ..... r0~rrse thee s lit
tie E s f he Pr.0ces Island
conf. r.tnrfnr nG'e.il results,
are --@ ro evpect2
Pub i0 t0uiOu. which has heen
p0rirf. .-f7g he darkct hours of
the lH-t foUr wears is not anxious now.
But .'a- N0r Des Of the armis'iCe:
what win the final peace be: Shall
We Ie equal 10 our victory? Have we
shed so much blood in order 70 en-
able arTOCan- Germany to draw ad-
yantaEes from her very defeat and
turn it against her victOrs?
Sentinel Against Aggregation.
am only Speaking with France.
But France Is in solidarity with the
world Since France stands as the
advanced sentinel against aggres-
sion. and, as such. exposed to all
eyentuuIities. her fate involves the
desuHies of all mankind. 1t is not
France alone that might be menaced
BY renewal OF German miIitarism
and Pau-Germanism. but. after
France, all nations.
There is another terrible conse-
queuce to be confronted if we fail
TO obtain the Kind of peace which
the blood of fallen freemen cries
for through the voice of the living,
namely. the collapse Of parliament
ism. If that were to come to pass
what would the free peoples OF the
world think? They have given their
children for the most sacred cause
N history, and now are their gov
ernmcnts unable to utilize victory?
Il would be proof Of total incapa citv
and absolute impotence on the part
OF those who thought they could
evolve great and wonderful plans
rom the worlds deIiberation. 1t
would be a manifestation of the
lower Of aUtOCratic states whose
CHIEFS act without consulting their
subjects.
Il is impossible to hide the con-
trust between tho rapid. decisive and
prompt action Of autOcrats, and the
tlmid, embarrassed. hindered, mower
less and inefficient action Of Congress,
OF peoples. But II such were 10 be
the nature Of the actions Of the
Peace Conference, it would mark the
most profound demonstration OF in
ternational retrogression.
People Must Act Swiftly.
Farewell, noble intention to force
a society of nations. if that is to
happen. II. indeed, immediately af-
Ter victory, while the memories of
the common struggle are still vivid
In all minds, the peoples cannot
agree and act with swiftness and
decision. what hope will remain in
The depths Of our hearts that they
Will agree at a later date?
In this I express, I am sure, an
opinion which is widespread in all
spheres Of my country. As l said
before 1t is evident we cannot ex-
pect all wills to submit to a single
command and gesture. That would
De tyranny, and what we want is
liberty.
1t is inconceivable that we should
appear weaker now than we were
when Germany, upon her knees, first