South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-05
BY FRANK III. SIMONDS.
{ News-Times and Associated News
paper Correspondent

(News-Times and Associated News
paper Correspondent
PARIS, Feb. 3.-(By cable to New
York; There is a question that
was asked many times before 1 left
America which finds an answer in
Europe quite different from what
could be realized at home. What,
after all, is America doing in Eu-
rope, in France, at the present time
What is her role as /. actually re-
veals itself on the spot2
The answer is as simple as il is
surprising. At the present hour,
America is playing a greater role
at Paris, possesses. more influence,
and encounters less opposition. po-
litically speaking at least, than did
Bismarck at the congress of Berlin.
No nation, not even Prussia. was so
powerful at Vienna a century ago.
This astonishing Development
and il is astonishing for a nation
which in all but some few years of
the existence has steadily avoided
intermixture in European affairs
is in the main the result of acct
dent, rather than of designs. Not
even Pres't Wilson could have fully
foreseen when he left Washington
exactly what place America was TO
hold. not alone in the peace confer
ence, but henceforth in the world.
No Selfish Motives.
Among the great powers which
have fought Germany, America
l.
sources increased rather than dim
inished.
The physical losses of France have
| been stupendous. British material
and human sacrifices have been en-
ormous ard the blow to British
morale has been perhaps even great
/ er. It was almost inevitable that
when America came to Europe her
immediate and far more her event
ual strength should give her a DOM
/ mating position. And il has hap
pened. America is seeking TO impress
! no selfish policy upon the world.
4 The truest criticisms of the Ameri-
can purpose is that her idealism is
at times blind and on occasion peril
Gus to her friends and of advantage
to the enemy.
Yet were Americas policy and
purpose selfish. there would still be
lacking force or energy to oppose
them, and again / am thinking of
political rather than economic pol
icies. IN a curiously complex de-
gree, France. Britain and Italy
have accepted the fact that war has
not made America a world power,
but the greatest of world powers,
and the people of Europe perhaps
even more than their statesmen
have accepted American leadership.
! No head OF any European govern
ment, save on one or two questions
of life and death. would venture to
take issue with the United States.
and l doubt if even then he would
survive the shock
Means American Responsibility.
But the consequences of our new
and unexpected position must not
| escape the American people The
nations which have almost tacidly
ence have also equally tacidly agreed
/ tnat with power must go reSpOn-
sibility. If we insist upon putting
new ideas and new principles into
practice, we take our share of the
burdens which from Constantinople
TO the Orange river and from the
Atlantic 10 the Persian Gulf con-
front the peace makers. The IA
miliar American idea is that as soon
as possible after our job is done, We
should recall our troops and return
TO our old isolation. This view is
held by not a few Americans in
Paris. but it is not the European
idea, nor do believe the thing will
be possible.
Rather there are multiplying evil
dnces that when we broke with our
past TO enter this war we broke with