New-York tribune., 1921-10-30
Critics Decry
Proposed Visit
Jf 2 Pre1niers
Fear Repetition of the Blum
ders of the Paris Peace
Farley Unless Diplomats
Direct Arms Discussion
By William L. Mcpherson

yA ference be two-premier.
. cae-premier or no.
premier affair? LLOYD
George and BRAND are eager to ad
to it's surface distinction by giving
something OF the character OF gathel
ine OF heads Of cabinets-heads
governments. if not of states. But tn
good intentions of either or both o
them may be frustrated by untowarf
events.
There were many premiers at the
Paris conference. In the Council Of
-Four, which ruled over that assemblage
With an iron hand, sat Lloyd George,
Premier of Great Britain; Clemenceau,
Premier of France; Orlando, Premier
Of Italy, and Wilson, President of the
United States, one grade higher than
Premier. Greece sent Venizelos, Ru-
mania, Bratiano; Poland, Paderewski;
Czecho- -Slovakia, Kramar. Of the Brit
ish dependencies Australia was repre-
sented BY Premier Hughes, South
Africa BY Premier Botha and New Zea-
lsnd by Premier Massey. The chief
delegate from the kingdom of the Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes was ex-Premier
pschitch.
Many critics Of the Paris conference
hold that there were too many heads of
cabinets there. Mr.. Lansing insists
that President Wilson abandoned po-
sition Of enormous strategic advantage
both when he went to Paris in person
and when he afterward consented to sit
at the conference as a mere delegate,
on an equality with the other dele
gates. His lack of any clear program
and his inherent defects as a negotiator
put him at disadvantage in dealing
with associates who knew better what
they wanted and were more skilled in
getting it. Mt. Lansing thinks that
better treaty and one easily acceptable
to the United States could have been
framed if Mr.. Wilson had remained in
position to judge the work of the me-
gotiators instead of committing him
self irrevocably on details as he went
along.
Cabinet Heads Wiser Not to
Enter Detailed Debates
There is much to support the view
that heads Of cabinets or states are
1ser not to enter personally into the
complexities of farreaching negotia-
lions. As they sit together in secret
conference they are affected by the in
innate spirit Of their intercourse and
make informal and hasty commitments
from which it is afterward difficult for
them to escape. Indirect negotiation
always leaves the door open to second
thought revisions.
At Washington, therefore, the re-
acton against Paris methods has al
ready begun to show it's effects. If Lloyd
George comes over he will come over
with the approval of the great body of
British opinion. But his case is pc
culiar. He is the one head of cabi-
net In the Council OF Four who still
retains political power He brought
home treaty which fully protected
British interests and with which his
eountrymen were generally satisfied
!here has been only sporadic opposi-
non to his appearance in person at
"ashlngton-that coming from the
sorthclitfe camp. But in Brands case
Aere has been q strong and genuine
protest against Frances being repre-
sented in the 1921 gathering, as in that
Of 1919, by the President of the Coun-
ell of Ministers.
The French are not pleased with the
insufficient treaty guarantees which
elemenceau's diplomacy secured for
them two years ago. They are as
little pleased at the results of subse-
quent negotiations, conducted by sue
eeeding premiers, through which the
sfeatys provisions were seriously
modified.
On this point La Liberte" said re-
Gently:
"our ministers, acting as nego-
tlators. consented to the abandon
ment of rights solemnly recognized
as as ours by the Treaty Of Versailles;
81 Mlllerand at London, at San Re-
mo, at Boulogne, at Spa; NJ. Leygues
az London; N. BRAND at London and
a. a. farls-in addition, NJ. Doumer at
tns financial conference of the 18th
OF August last.
"A system which gives such re-
suts condemns itself. When, more
osef, 1t 5 contrary to the constitu-
s.on and laws of the country, the
.:namoers ought TO protest against
US maintenance. We have q diplo-
matte corps which includes eminent
men, trained in international discus
alohs- The decisions which they
nahe can engage the nation only
alseF they have been examined by
sI government. nave been approved
chambers.
: nny thrust aside these author
.ssa expert representatives. of France
onq renounce all these guarantees, in
o;suer TO substitute for them politi-
dd'aas dsus poorly prepared for diplomatic
SSs;oaees, ignorant of the details Of
sssIp,uses which they are called on to
ss,e, sss,, and especially inclined to
s'sS The solution of all difficulties in
ins noafgain-as they do with questions
rae ,sas ehe security of France or the
'sparatlon due US.
mat Is why, in the light of ex-
ppnHehce, p, we hold that NJ. BRAND
-sne not to go TO Washington to
n.I:sssnt France and run the risk of
+haAing engagements there beyond