Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-11-09
CHAPTER XIV
An Allied Crisis


Thus time passed, from the end Of
December, 1918, to the beginning of
July. 1919. A time of complexities and
of difficulties, time of overwhelming
work and responsibility but also of in
spring effort and result; time often
dramatic. | have explained the inner
workings of the machine. / shall now
attempt to show the extent of it's out
put.
Something of the wild exhilaration of
the armistice, which soon sobered down
into tranquil optimism, had marked
the first meeting of the conference. Ex-
cessive optimism prevailed as to agree
ment ON the application Of principles:
excessive optimism prevailed as to the
power of this imposing group of victors
to control the actual course of events.
! have told how France proposed pro-
gram of work which had been rejected
as too hard and fast and systematic.
The AngloSaxons preferred to deal
with the most pressing matters first.
So the Russian question was taken up,
with what naive hopes later events
have shown. Then there was the hope
less failure of Prinkipo, yainly prophe
sled from the first by NJ. Clemenceau.
Meet for Information
Then-all the while attempting TO
disarm Germany and to draw up the
pact of the League of Nations-we be-
gan to hold meetings for information
Interminable statement, many of which
revealed an alarming imperialism on
the part of the most recent benefici-
aries of victory, were listened to with
out discussion. About this time the
United States and Great Britain both
calling for the presence Of the heads
of their respective governments, Mr.
Wilson and Mr.. Lloyd George had to
go away.
Five days later, NJ. Clemenceau was
struck down by an assassin and had
to retire temporarily with bullet in
his lung. 1t was a fallow and discour--
aging time. time of difficulties and
Of vain disputes over questions of pro-
cedure-modified armistice, preliminary
terms of peace or treaty. However.
inside progress was being made. The
commissions were filing their reports in
quick succession. BY the end of March,
their work was about completed. 1t
was at this moment that the council
Of four. which met for the first time
on March "a. took up this material.
In six weeks Of continuous effort, they
were going to clear away the under
brush, lay the foundations and build
up the treaty.
ueH ulscusSibuS DtSdH. Null1 anu
unruffled on most points, bitter and
stormy on three Of the most important
to France: The left bank of the Rhine.
the Sarre valley and the question of
reparations.
Take Long Sittings
These three points took up long sit
tings ard led to fierce debates. Fur
thermore, on certain occasions two
tendencies began to appear which fore
shadowed future difficulties. France,
usually supported by the United States.
demanded that the accepted principles
of the peace be unWayeringly applied: |
Resolutions, reparations, guarantees.
I'VE were attacked" said nj. Glenn
enceau. I'VE are victorious. We repre-
sent right. and might is ours This
might must be used in the service of
right"
Mr.. Lloyd George did not say no.
Indeed, he sometimes urged exemplary
severity, as for the punishment of the !
kaiser and his accomplices or to force
payment of the expenses of the war. |
But at times also his parliamentary OBJ |,
session would come over him Under |
the influence of some of his assistants |!
such as General Smuts-or after break |
fasting with some labor leader. he /
would arrive at the meeting looking /
glum. and announce, 'They will not |
sign" That was his great anxiety. 1t I
led him to write long notes in which |
he laid down for himself and recon-
mended to his allies policy of extreme
I'VE must have" he kept repeating,
"a German government that will sign /
The one now in power is but shadow.
If our terms are too severe it will fail.
A - II Il
At the end Of March this obsession
became SO threatening to the most vital
f(Contipued ON Page Two.)