New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-31
Poincare, Like Shakespeare,
viii Be Dead but Quoted

viii BE Dead but Quoted
Poincare visualizes the League still
struggling on fifteen years hence, but
with considerable competition. The
competition is the international Uni
vcrsal Association" a peace society
which the United States has finally
joined. He pictures himself as dead as
Shakespeare at this juncture, but, like
Shakespeare's, his memory and wisdom
still live strong enough to have place
in the futuristic Cabinet discussion at
the Quai d'Orsay in January, 1885.
The dialogue follows:
Paul Boncour, Premier without port
folio (Boncour is at present Unified
Socialist Deputy --My dear colleagues,
it is not the time for speeches. The
Cabinet has met to examine a serious
situation. In a few days-on January
2O-it will be fifteen years since the
Treaty of Versailles came into force.
We must make some important deci-
sions.
A. Maginot, Minister of War (Magi-
not is at present Minister of Pensions
in the BRAND binet)-Decisions
which are Of such great Importance be-
cause the treaty led US into a blind
alley.
NJ. Andre Tardieu, Minister for the
Devastated Regions (Tardeu was the
cc-framer with Clemenceau of the YER
sailles Treaty)-I beg your pardon; it
is fifteen years since we pulled the
treaty to pieces instead of carrying it
out.
boncour-Let US have no recrimina-
tions. We must look facts in the face.
FIRST of all, there is the Sarre plebi-
settle. The League of Nations is organ
izing it, but is it the original league,
of which the United States is not a
member, or the International Universal
Assoc alton, which America finally
! joined? (Boncour asks the Minister
OF Justice to decide on this fine point
of law.)
M. Forgot, Minister of Justice
! (Forgeot is a well known Chamber of
Deputies orator and expert on repara-
tlons questions)-It is not my business
to answer such an embarrassing cues
ton. 1t has more to do with the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs.
M. Colrat, Minister of FOREIGN A.
fairs {Colrat is at present Assistant
Secretary of the Interior in the BRAND
Cabinet)-In my opinion the original
League IS the suitable one, but | am
sorry for it. 1t is not easy to hold a
pieblsclte as provided for in the treaty.
1se voting should take place by COM
mune or by district, but nobody has anv
idea of what is meant by district. The
inhabitants have three solutions to
choose from, to continue the present
regime, to unite with France or re-.
turn to Germany. But the treaty saws
nothing of nationality, and if the Sar-
rois unite with France nobody knows
whether they become French or re-
main Sarrois.
Boncour-We will consider that sub
ject later. Unfortunately, it is mex
haustibie. There are other mo,e
urgent questions. Mr.. Minister of War.
what was the exact position of Ger
many's disarmament on January L?
M. Maginot-I am the last person
to tell you that. Why did not people
IN 1919 listen to those who considered
treaty guarantees On the subject of
disarmament insufficient? The years
have weakened these. Germany has
been granted delay after delay. and in
Upper Silesia England has refused To
understand that, in conformity with
the wishes of the inhabitants. the
mineral and industrial regions should
have been left to Poland. You know
what happened. Thirteen years ago
Germany announced one day that she
mad carried out all the military and
naval and aerial clauses: Demolition
OF fortresses on the left bank. delivery
or destruction of heavy guns, campaign
guns, machine guns, battleships, sub
marines, airplanes, tanks and reduction
OF the army to the figure fixed by the
OLD agreements of Spa, London and
Paris. We were, therefore, forced to