The New York herald., 1921-10-03
CLEMENCEAU ASKS
arms CONFERENCE
TO REPAIR WRONGS
Ex-Premier Talks of Failure
i'm Execution Of Versailles
Peace Treaty.
CAUSE OF THE EVIL
Chiefs With Subordinate
Powers Welded Control
Says the Tiger
SPEECH sTIRs THE FRENCH
Made at Unwilling of Statue
of the Venerable Father
of Victory
SPEECH STIRS THE FRENCH

Special Cable to THE NEw YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, Oct. 2. T
No political speech in years has been
awaited in France with so much ex-
pectancy as the moving discourse pro-
nounced to-day by former Premier
Georges Clemenceau at the unwilling
of his statue at st. Hermine in Vendee
before great multitude attracted
there by the fact that the Father OF
Victory" was about to break his long
political silence.
In a measure, however, the exact
effect of the speech on French politics
cannot be measured for some days.
The vigorous octogenarian did not
castigate his enemies as some had
expected him to do, and the idea that
Clemenceau himself hoped by to-days
discourse to regain power had been
long ago dismissed. BY many it was
regarded as his valedictory to active
political life.
The suggestion which Clemenceau
advanced that the Washington confer
ence for the limitation of armament
should repair what France had lost
through the faulty execution of the
Versailles Treaty and his reference to
the making Of the treaty, IT am not
here to accuse any one. Evil came
from the fact that chiefs with the
powers of subordinates welded con-
troll that had to be controlled" are
the cause Of much comment.
Chance for Redress.
"The conference at Washington said
Clemenceau. can find In the present
state of things beautiful occasion to
redress the faults Of execution to-day in
evidence. More than ever the interest of
the people OF the world is showing solldar-
ity. and from France such an appeal
would be heard by all and would help
to assure them that better than doubt
full world organization is stable Euro
pean peace without which nothing can
be established"
1t is upon this part of his speech
that political interest now turns. as it
Is the first time this idea has been
openly advanced. and it unquestionably
fores..adows an effort by Premier Bri-
and's enemies when the Chamber meets
to demand such q policy.
Clemenceau's policy would be TO de-
mand at Washington guarantees in lieu
of American and British unratified en-
gagements for assistance il France was
threatened by attack which Clemenceau u
insists were offered to him by Wood
row Wilson and Premier Lloyd George
before he had even asked for them.
Clemenccau to-day also supported Andre
Tardieu's construction OF the treaty al
lowing France In default of these en-
gagements or other satisfactory guar
antees TO remain on the Rhine after
expiration of the time limit.
To-nigits papers In treating OF Cle-
menceau's speech dwell upon the errors
OF the treaty as having been due largely
TO him. and insisting that to-day's de-
monstrauon was for his service TO
France during the war and not after
ward.
Man of New Era Suggested.
The L,berte, while giving him credit
for victory. says that france now must
look for q man Of the new era whose
heart and spirit will not be carried away
by London any more than by Berlin"
The Temps sees In the speech great
contradiction. saying that II France has
not secured what she expected II was be-
cause of concessions she was obliged to
make to the Allies and the Entente,
which C1pmcnceau says was an aheo
lutely essential condition. II Clcmenceau
hac remained In power. the Temps says.
he would have found himself in the
same dilemma as the succeeding French
Governments. because Il Is obvious that
preservation OF allied accord is more
imperative for France than n strict APP
plics tion OF the treaty.