The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-24
SUSPICION OF
CLEMENCEAU
UNFOUNDED
FIare-up of Senators
Is Unfair
BY MARK SULLIVAN

lIdISS INC unhappy oedeO VI LCoA oAu
suspicion which afflicts the whole |
world to find Georges Clemenceau the
object of criticism. on the one hand
from Senator Borah, who was the
chief OF the "irreconcillables" in op-
position to the league of nations, and,
on the other hand from Senator Hitch
cock Of Nebraska who led the fight in
Senate in favor of the league of ma
tions.
Clemenceau was never league of
nations man. he was willing to tolerate
it because Wilson wanted it; but he
had no great faith in it. At Paris
he used to say, in effect, Il am an old
man. / have seen great deal, and
/ do not believe war can wholly be
banished from the world by the league
of nations" At the same time he
lused to add, speaking to some Ameri-
cans in effect: You men are younger
your nation is younger. Maybe you
are right. Maybe you have the better
vision. I am willing to let the exper-
iment be made. If it doesn't stop war
completely, maybe it will, at least, re-
move some of the causes of war, and
give time for reflection before nations
take the sword. | am willing to try it,
although l am not willing to intrust
Frances safety to that alone"
Position Unjust.
It is not only unjust for the enc
mics of the League of Nations to
treat Clemenceau as if he were their
antagonist; it is equally unjust to hold
Clemenceau responsible for the spirit
of extreme revenge which actuates
some parts of the Versailles treaty.
The truth is that at the peace con-
ference Clemenceau represented
contrast to the extreme French mill
taristic opinion. 1t was not Clemen-
ceau, but Foch and Poincare, who
wanted to the extreme of revenge on
Germany. Clemenceau was constant
Iy in disagreement with Fech and
Poincare, and constantly under at
tack from them.
At the end, after the peace con-
ference was over, these enemies OF
Clemenceau who thought he had been
too mild with Germany, succeeded III
ousting him. Clemenceau today IS
prescribed by Poincare and the others
who compose the present government
of France. and are responsible Tor
Frances present policies.
Foch, Poincare to Blame
It was Foch and Poincare who
rrassed Ciemenceau to seize the left
hank of the Rhine and make the
Rhine Frances permanent frontier
and otherwise to act with extreme
,1lthlessness toward Germany. II was
Foch who wanted to march into 70
land and take the American army with
him, and march also into Russia, TAX
ing the American army with him.
Clemenceau stood out against thls
extreme miliarists and was always
under pressure from them. Also II
was not primarily Clemenceau VINO
was responsible for making the Ger
man reparations so impossibly large.
That fault lies chiefly on the shoul-
ders of Lloyd George.
Made Extravagant Promise
Lloyd George, in order to win the
election in Great Britain in Decem-
Der 1918, Just before the peace con-
ference began, promised the British
people TO make Germany pay the en-
tire cost of the war, including pen
sions for British soldiers, who were
at the front during the war and the
separation allowances for the wives
of British soldiers who were killed.
1t was in the att6mpt on the part of
IIoyd George to make good on these
promises that the German reparatlons
were fixed at an impossible sum.
Clemenceau would have been con-
tent with forcing Germany to make
good merely for the devastation done
in France and Belgium and elsewhere.
OF course, it is undeniably true that
Clemenceau wanted, and still wants,
Great Britain and the United States
TO make treaties with France, suaran-
teeing that they will come to Frances
help if ever France should be attack
ed. To this proposal our American
public is even less friendly than 1t is
to the league of nations. Wilann, al
though he did not believe in this pro-
posal. finally during the course of the
negotiations at Paris promised Glenn
enceau that he would recommend Ii
to the American public.
Hopeless Proposal
So hopeless was it, however, to get
any degree of support for this propos-
al in America that it never received
any except the most perfunctory dis
cussion here and was never formally
passed upon by our senate. If 1t had
been brought up formally in the sen
ate there would have been fewer votes
for il even than there was for the
league of nations.
Among all the Americans who were
at Paris either officially or as observ
ers, | can recall not one who did not
think of Clemenceau as man apart
There were many who disagreed WITH
him completely. but all regarded hin
as fine. honest, frank old man, who
stood by fixed principles. always sale
what he meant, and never pracuceC
the diplomatic subtleties that were
characteristic of some of the othe
Europeans.
Would Get Few Votes
AS a practical matter, so far a:
Clemenceau means TO bring forward
this old proposal of an American guar
antee for France. it is quite impos
sible. If it were brought before oul
senate it probably would not get more
than five or ten votes. Nevertheless
the weight of opinion here is less ex
cited than that of senators who have
spoken up sharply.
The bulk of feeling here favors tax
ing Clemeneeau as he is, a fine ant
brave old man. who loves his owl
\ country and speaks the truth as HI
sees II. There is no serions idea tha