The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-06
FRANCE FEELS NEED
OF AN ARMED PEACE
British View Of Republics OBJ
lection to League Of Ma
tions Plan.
BEAR THE BRUNT OF WAR
Now Insists That She Get
Protection Against a
Recurrence.
Special cd6,t' Despatch to TIE srs from the
London Times Service.

Special ca6,t' Despatch to TIE sen from the
! London Times Service.
Copyright. 1919: oil rtohs seserced
| PARIS, Feb. 5.--In all the discussion
of the IDEAL of the League OF Nations
there is at least one very concrete fact
"A fact which President Wilson In his
speech in the French Chamber OF Depu-
ties Monday felt bound to admit
namely. the absolute necessity for the
protection OF France. The French have
shown that their diplomacy and mastery
Of war will not leave their country
either without friends or armies ready
and able TO fight for her safety
There Is considerable opposition to
| the League OF Nations In France. Part
| OF that spirit of objection IL due to in
| ternal political capital which has been
made out Of fhe Wilsonian programme
by the extremist parties. But there are
| number OF additional reasons which
, lead the French to scrutinize with spe-
cial caro- any scheme for q League OF
Nations.
France has shared with Belgium the
| painful honor of being the cockpit OF
liberty and cannot afford to make any
| mistake in the present conference. The
whole of her history shows that stong
France Is essentially component part
OF European peace. nor are the require
| ments Of pacihst France different from
those of other pacihst countries. The
| stronger they are in peace the better or
gan.zed Will be the League OF Nations
Rapid Action Necessary.
President Wilson said on Monday that
men everywhere were ready to insure
| the security of France with all the
strength at their disposal. He said
France had been supported by the Allies
and also by the free peoples OF the whole
world. The Temps points out that the
war began with the Austrian aggression
against Serbia, that imperialist Russia
took up arms for the Slav cause. that
France supported her Russian ally and
that Great Britain, obeying her sympa-
thies no less than her interests, inter-
vened to keep her pledge OF Belgian
neutrality. and that japan came In as an
ally Of Great Britain. II was not so
much a general rising OF peoples rush.
ing to the support Of France. the Temps
points out. as a series OF peoples re-
spending to the dictates OF honor and In
tereS.
II for this result. OF old time diplomacy
and its working interest a new charter
Is TO be substituted and new guarantee
Is 70 be forged. the Tempe. vo!csng the
general feeling OF France feeling
which has not been weakened by the
enthusiasm which greeted President VIII
son--demands that the new instrument
shall he quickly created. shall work de-
cisively and with rapid efficiency.
n. 1AIn Ia al I'M
France, which, Is Mr.. Wilson said. Is the
frontier Of civilization, exposed more than
any power to overwhelming surprise and
aggression.
Pledge for War Required.
NJ. Herbette OF the Temps points out
that until the battle OF the Sonme re-
vealed the crushing weight OF the new
British armies. France was left for long
months alone TO hold the gate. He adds
Victory was nevertheless achieved. but
at what a price. II in the future the
League OF Nations has only such dearly
bought triumphs to hold out TO Its ad-
herents II will impress but a few ANA
tours"
There ,s. however, as NJ Ferbette
points out. even from this standpoint no
reason to reject the idea Of the league.
He continues: Each Government az
filiated with the society of nations must
have the desire and power to sign a
convention according to which 1t VIII
pledge itself to go to war with all It's
strength against any country attacking
any other
France is ready to Sign such n con-
vention. The United states no doubt
also is prepared to do so,
American Delegates Wary.
At Mondays meeting of the Allied !
League of Nations associations several
resolutions were unanimously agreed
upon. Others the American delegates |
did not feel entitled by their mandate |
to vote upon. In the former category |
were resolutions calling upon the associ- !
ated Governments to see that there !,
should be nothing in the peace settle !
ment contrary to President Wilson's !
fourteen points. The resolutions which /
did not obtain the support OF the Ameri- |
can delegation dealt with Limitation Of
ornaments. immediate reduction OF
armed forces and definite determination !
OF the military strength to be maintained
by each state to he put at the service ,
of the league In suppressing revolt |
against Its authority, and the prohibit
ing tho sale OF arms 20 natives OF I'M !
civilized countries. Part OF the French ,
press expresses surprise at .the inability |
Of the American delegation to vote on |
such resolutions.
1t is becoming evident that as territorial
disputes In many cases will have to be
referred TO smaller committees, so many
Of the larger problems will be referred to !
the consideration OF the League OF Ma
lions. Among these Is freedom OF the
seas Although a number Of committees
OF experts have started examining this :
problem. It II more than likely that II .
will come before the Peace Conference
itself. Naturally the subject is being
studied notably by the Americans. who !,
appear to have formed their own COM
mittee Of experts to treat It