The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-17

pretend to be, a statesman. He is
lonly a great soldier. Nevertheless,
his political influence was so great
that even in 1920 he overthrew the
mort powerful statesman in France
within a month after his triumphant
return at the polls with a huge sup
porting majority in the French par
lament 1t was Marshal Foch who,
by his antagonism, was responsible
| for NJ C1emenceaU's defeat at the
presidential election of 1920. But for
Marshal Foch's Intervention NJ. Glenn
enceau would have been today presi-
dent OF the French Republic.
Why was he beaten at the height
Of his fame by a candidate of in
finitely less prestige and power?
The wrath of Marshal Foch and his
formidable following was excited ali
the more against NJ. Clemenceau be-
cause the latter had. under pressure
from the allies, gone back on the
agreed French policy about the
Rhine.
NJ. Tardieu, as is we'll known, was
one of the two most prominent min
isters in NJ. Clemenceau's admins
tratiou, and closely associated with
his chief in the framing of the Peace
in that book he gives at length a doc
lment which he handed to the allies
on March 18th, 1919. containing the
following proposal:
I'm the general interest Of peace
and to assure effective working of
the constituent clause of the Lea
que of Nations, the western from
tier Of Germany IS fixed at the
lenouIces all sovereignty over. as
we'll rs any customs union with,
territories of the former German
Empire on the left bank of the
Rhine"
Theresis q saroonic humor in the
words In the general interest of
peace and to assure effective work
ing of the constituent clause of the
League of Nations" But it demon
strates that at that date NJ. Clemen-
ceau and his ministers had become
converts to the doctrine of the Rhine
as the natural boundary of Germany.
American and British pressure subse-
quently induced him to abandon this
rosition and. as l said in my previous
article, the pact was part of the ar
gument addressed to him. But the
party of the Rhine never forgave.
Hence his failure to reach the presi-
Dental chair. 1t was an honorable
failure. and will ever do him credit.
Explanation of Defeat.
The reasons assigned for that de-
feat by the Annual Register 1919
192O-certainly not a partisan author
ity-proves that even an uncXciteable
Chronicler labored then under the de-
lusion-if it be a delusion-which
possessed me when l wrote the Of
Tending article. Explaining the re
markable defeat, the Annual Register
says:
"Clemenceau's supporters con-
tended that the terms of the
treaty of Versailles were satisfaC-
tory from the French point of
view. His opponents declared
that he had given way too much
to American and British stand
points. and that the peace was
unsatisfactory, particularly in re-
spect of guarantees for reparaa-
tions due to France and in the
matter of the French eastern
frontier. IT WILL BE RE-
MEMBERED THAT A LARGE
BODY OF FRENCH OPINION
HAD DESIRED THAT FRANCE
SHOULD SECURE THE LINE
OF THE RHINE AS HER EAST
ERN FRONTIER"
can if necessary quote endless
leading articles in French journals
and writings and speeches of French
politicians. Men OF such divergent
taSnperaments and accomplishments
as NJ. Franklin BouilIon and NJ. Tar
dieu gave countenance to this claim
that Germany should be amputated at
the Rhine.
Later on, at, reception of Marshal
Foch when he was elected a member
of the French Academy. NJ. Poincare,
turning at one moment in his dis
course to the Marshal, said in refer
ence to the veteran generals we'll
known attitude on the peace treaty: