The Washington times., 1921-03-23
|YANKSWANTEDW WAR
PR0L0NGED,HESAYS
French Writer Declares Colonel
House Wasn't Anxious for
Early Peace.

PARIS, March 23.-rt was America
and not France that wished to con-
t'nue the war and reject Germany's
Flea for an armistice, according to
"Mermefx." an anonymous writer In
Revue Universelle. who backs UP his
assertion with q number Of docu-
ments including letters exchanged By
Clemenceau. Marshal Foch. he states.
was anxious to save the lives of allied
coldiers and had not the least desire
to add to his list of victories q nnal
crushing smash transcendinx all.
$50 far from Colonel House being
anxious for an early peace" says
"Mermeix." "he seems. probably under
the Inspiration Of Pershing and other
American generals. to have been un-
opposed to q prolongation Of the war
for several days or even several
weeks At least. that Is what Is to
be inferred from a short conversation
he had with Marshal Foch on Oc-
tober 81, before the first meeting of
the Supreme War Council at his
house.
Marshal Foch, the Government Of
the United States will not be satisfied
with an incomplete victory; II is for
you to decide II the fighting should
continue" said Colonel House.
FOCH ACCEPTED VICTORY.
"If the Germans accept the term.
we have proposed for an armistice,'
replied Foch. 1T is a surrender in the
open field. We obtained by this sur
render all we could possibly obtain by
the greatest of victories. Therefore
have no right to expose the life of
another soldier
"Mermcixr further suggests that
there were some fears in allied cir
cies that when the Americans had the
largest army in the field they might
have acted independently Of their al
| lies.
"If the war had not stopped on No
vcmber IL, 1918" he observes, "the
Americans, who were debarking $780,
600 men a month, would soon have
had the largest army on the western
front. Despite the personal loyalty
of General Pershing IL might have
been difficult not to permit him to
assume the independence that many
Americans desired him to have, The
unity of command established by the
allies under such trying circumstances
and which produced such great re-
suits would have been again in ques-
tion in 1919. In 1919, If Germany had
rot surrendered, the war would have
continued several months"
"Mcrmeix" further declares that
Clcmonceau once threatened to re-
sign tho premiership IL President
roincare did not cease to interfere in
war affairs which he considered his
own preroSatiye. Differences between
the two French leaders, he says, had
been brewing long time and finally
came TO head over the armistice-
| Poincare was very anxious that the
4 c rni stice should not be concluded too
early and enable the Germans to es-
cape the penalties OF the war. "Mer-
meix" states: "On the evening OF Oc-
tober IS NJ. Poincaro forwarded to NJ.
| IClemenceau a letter in which he re-
rcated all the objections which he
had previously made verbally to an
armisticc before tho victory was dc
csivc. insisting that there was q dan
ger of ham -stringing' the soldiers il
they were pulled up at the height OF
| their elan.
! M. Clemenceau, who, as a rule
made no written reply to the letters
which tho President wrote to him in
abundance (as he had done to all his
rredecessors). this time decided on a
reply. In a short note, dated October
"a, he protested with vigor against
tho reproach of exposing tho soldiers
to being 'hamstrung.' and expressed
his astonishment that the experience
Of three years OF personal power had
rot taught the President that Minis
ters who alone had responsibility
that is TO say, could be held account
cblc) SHOULD be allowed to be masters
cf their own decisions. In conclusion,
NJ Clemonccau offered his resignation
should interventions similar to that
agaiust which he protested be re-
| reated.
"Thc incident had no further dcvcl-
opmcnt IL could not have, because
! in October. 1918, NJ. Clemenceau was
/ tho animateur OF the whole entente.
His departure would have led To such
d crisis that the soldiers. and not only
the French troops would shave lost
their drive while the morale Of the
Germans would have been revived"