Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-15

aiii't liit NEW principe VI Settle
ment was at work-that IL was de-
cided to allay popular impatience by
the dramatic and decisive stroke of
inviting the Germans TO come at
once to Versailles 10 receive the
treaty. This decision was taken on
Sunday. April -.
A Letter From Colonel House.
The reconciliation between French
and Americans was also marked by
relaxation Of the campaign against
the President in the newspapers Of
Paris. The following letter from
Colonel House, the conciIiator. gives
the result Of an interview with Gle
nenceau. 10 whom he brought news
Of concessions on some OF the mat
ters still pending:
Paris April Is. 1919.
Dear Governor:
saw Clennenceau again yesterday
after you left. He was perfectly de-
lighted with what I was able 70 tell
him concerning the syrian-Arnenian
matters. and the period Of occupa-
ton (of the left bank Of the Rhine).
I spoke to Clernenceau about the
attacks in the French press. It made
no difference. told him. except that
it was bringing about strained rela-
tons between our two Countries
condition which I was sure he did
not wish. He rang for his secretary
again and told him to give instr,Ic-
tons to the Echo de Paris, lie Petit
Journal, lie Petit Parisien, lie FL
CARO-. lie Temps. La Liberee and sew
eral others which do not recall. to
say that the relations between
France and the United States were
Of the very best and that there was
no disagreement between yourself
and himself upon any Of the great
questions before the conference.
shall await with interest to see what
happens.
Afectionately yours.
(signed) z. VI. HOUSE.
The President,
II Place des Etats-Cnis.
The agreement regarding the left
bank Of the Rhine was completed on
April Is. the late Colonel Hause's
letter. by the consent Of Wilson and
Lloyd George to an occupation OF
fifteen years. The decision is lilo
ical both from the point Of view Of
French security and from that Of
providing a guarantee for the COL
lection Of Germany's debts. II is
virtually a splitting OF the difference
between the Anglo-American stand
for speedy withdrawal and the
French demand to stay at least
thirty years. The hope Of the French
lay in finding means 10 proiong their
tenure. and they adapted themselves.
throughout the next fortnight, 70 de-
vising additional clauses 10 this end
driven by fierce pressure from the
reactIOnary group led by Foch and
Poincaire. Their effort met with a.
considerable degree Of success, and
the guarantee" clauses at last
emerged with TWO possibilities Of pro-
longing the OCcUpation--f Germany
refuses 10 observe her obligations.
and IL Frances security IS deemed
TO require further guarantees.
With the decisions in regard 20
PREPARATION the Saar Valley and the
left bank OF the Rhine. the main
outlines of the settlement with
France were complete. These were
accompanied by "a flood OF decisions
on subsidiary points.
In all these arrangements the orig
inal French intent appears under
various DISCUSSES. whitfield down in
effect, laboring along through tor
tuous phrases under load OF ideal
istic expressions and restrictive con-
ditions. But it is very much there
so much so that the bitterness of
Clemenceau'S opponents, after throw
$. Aib MN ana MS lcmpOElZAOR success
h sors out Of Office, has at last found
h in the very treaty he criticized an
n ample base for a most vigorous pol
,e icy in pursuit Of French interests
J. And yet these terms do not repre-
l. sent mitigations at all points Of the
J. extreme French demands, and most
r Of these notifications and amehora-
he cations We're due 70 the determined
e fight made by President Wilson.
But it is the defect Of compromises
,s in vital matters such as these
that they really satisfy no one
They We're followed Immediately by
"a extraordinary attempts to evade OF
he modify them. The effort Of certain
lie reactionary French elements e
j. stimulate a rebellion in the Rhine
a provinces and thus, by violent
~ means, secure what the Peace Con.
re ference had failed 10 give them, /.
CT an episode OF remarkable signific-
ne ance, the true history OF which ha.
n never been told. This win be pre-
ed scented in the next chapter.