The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-13
Question of Wilson's Action.

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Question of Wilson's Action.
The question. therefore, is whether
Mr.. Y ilson will rec aive the French am
hassadnr and perhaps the charge DAFT
faires OF the British embassy and the
new Italian ambassador. The excuse
hitherto given was the presidents i'll.
ness but the present situation is fur.
Their complicating by the surprising
statement with reference to the alleged
imperialism Of France made by the
president In his letter to Senator Hitch
cock,
The president said then throughout
the sessions OF the peace conference IN
Paris, II was evident that militarlstiC
party, under the most influential lead
ershlp, was seeking to gain ascendency
IN the counsels of France. They were
defeated then, but they are in control
now"
This accusation has brought forth a
storm of protest from the French press
The French government is reported
moreover, to have instructed Amhassa =
dor Jusserand to express to the Ameri
can government its surprise and amaze
ment at She presidents reference 10
France, but in Washington this does
not awaken much excitement because
not so long ago Ntscount Grey wrote n
letter to the London Times expressing
Views freely about American political
affairs and the Fsench press supported
whole -heartedly that communication
and defended 1t as immune from diplO-
matte improperly because II was per-
sonal and not an official act. Thus
the presidents supporters contend his
letter TO Senator Hitchcock should be
taken as a personal communication
from one member Of the United States
government to another.
France and Imperialism.
Tn the other hand. the msinuatlon OF
Imperialism made by the president /.
thought 10 be founded upon his annoy
ance over the manner IN which the So
called Joker" In the peace treaty has
already been invoked TO treaten a pro-
longation of the French military occups
ton OF the left bank OF the Rhine.
The president entertains the fTitnd!i l.
est feelings for Marshal Foch. but the
suspicion In recent months has been
that the distinguished military genius
Of France is much more Interested in
acquiring the Rhinelaud for France a
proposal which he openly advocated dur
ing the sessions OF the peace conference.
than he is at present in seeing carried
out the letter of the compromise which
Mr.. Wilson agreed to and which lib
erals In America criticize him for
doing.
1t is partly Mr.. Wilson smarting un-
der the criticism OF liberal opinion and
partly Mr. Wilson seeking to prevent
the prediction Of those who doubt
Frances real intentions which Ia reall,'
believed to be back 81 the reference to
france in the Hitchcock letter.
Warning to France,
II was not inserted as a passing ar
gument, but unquestionably as a SOL
en!n warning to what Mr., Wilson sees
in France--a rising military party.
Frenchmen here say the president Is all
wrong, that he doesn't understand
French politics and that he liz too sus-
picious, curiousiy enough, Senator
Lodge, the Republican leader, by his
statement deploring Mr. wilson's ref
erence 10 France, has encouraged
Frenchmen TO believe that the Repub-
llcan leader may yet revert to a position
Of active friendship for France in the
American senate
But to France the true test Of the
sincerity of either the Democrats or
Republicans In the United States In
their professions Of friendship for
France will depend to 4 large extent
upon whether the special French Brit
ish- American defensive agreement is
ratified.
There are those who think neither MI,
Wilson nor the senate is especially anx-
ious at present to support the agree
ment, and as for the president. some
observers profess TO see him retiring
from the pledge given Premier Ciemen
eeau TO support the special treaty. q
retirement that might be based upon
this supposed ascendancy of the mill
tarists In France.
So the French government Is at pains
TO know how to take Mr. Wilson. how
TO approach him, how to express its
establishment over his accusations, and
yet keep his support for the French
treaty and consult him on the Turkish
situation, lest he threaten again to with.
draw America from the domain OF inter.
national cooperation.
Copyright, 1920, by David Lawrence. J