Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-15

snd tho Germans had oessed nxhting
upon q clear understanding OF its
provisions. lie saw In such methods
only revival Of tho hstrehs and bit
t~rnee- m ths war, which he was
seeking 10 nlisy.
What I wish 10 avoid" he aid
20 the Council. ''because of mistakes
made in tho original terms N the
srnistics. IL to seem TO AID new con-
di,ions.
! In this he was strongly supported
by General Bllss, Who had made his
I nRht previously In ths Military Bsn-
iion Of the gupreue Wpr Council.
and sven sent 10 tho tsn a minority
report ernbodying his objection. Tho
introduction of such demands into the
renewed srmistic., accompanied by
threat 20 uss forcs, n dishonorabls
- II IN not neo>sssrv. and
n rnsy mean tho r-nsfrrvtion OF the
wnr."
! Mr. LORD George and rnors -
pecialiy Mr. Balfour. supported the
Americans in this contention.
But throughout tho conferences
narshsl Pooh s.obbornly fouxh. tor
the extreme French demands. Tho
been n hateful exp~ri~ncs for tbs
grlzzlsd old general who had won
, the var All his Iks long ne hsd
4. been trained 90 no other end than to
! nnks war: he knew only military
vnys and military methods, and
4 throughout the conferences hs worried
- pss~onst.ly for the , welfare u
Franc. as n. ssv n, ard in the only
- hA ~
way. ono hsc often the impression
that though hs vas the unost SC
claimed man in all France Walking
always IN y1ory. YET tbs, he was full
o< bitterness OF spirit. II ne had ha1
his way he would no doubt havs
plunged Europe into more war, not
only immediate war. but rnore fearful
fu.ur. war. but be nevertheless
thought himself absolutely rish, In
his contentious He could kneel
| humbiy az mass eseh morning, as
| was his invayiable custom, and ssk
| the blessing N God upon what he
Il did Finally. 10 unrelsn,ipx WIS his
\ opposition that they made tho treaty
II without even allowing him 20 see q
II copy Of Is provisions before II was
II presented 70 the sixth plenary 49,
\ sion.
II 7 should have certain remarks 20
u make" ne esid in a powerful speech
Il on that occasion. III had the teIt
~ the treaty draft but must admit
II ia not yet in my possession.
II Nevertheless ne stood up thsre, a
Il bold. obstinate, brave. short-siRftsd
II old soldier TO fight 20 the last a
II treaty he thought not s-vere enough
II That hs had with him a large follow
N ing OF French public opinion Is oar
tain---a public opinion that depoSed
II C1emencenu A. soon as the Peacs
III Conference Was at an end.
Ill Az an unescspabl. coroliary oc th,s
war spirit, sa result OF the ovsr~
wnelming victory Of tho allies. tha
impulse overywhere among both ths
great and small nations OF Europe
III tho small nations were an unre-
strained as the great-was 70 sefzs
instantly upon the material fruits o,
victory-to grab. There had bee1
vast losses, losses in men ana prop
erty: these must be recoupsA and ~
couped at once. And this was by n
means the spirit alone Of tho leaders
u who wanted islands. coal mines citie+
or ships: every peasant who had los
COW wanted his cow--or two cow
Instantly returned 70 him. Thi'
aspect Of the situation aftsr th'
Peace Conference began became n
bitter. go rnenacing. that on Jan. 2
- President Wilson drew up the foi
lowing communication TO the nation
h.v OF the world. read II 70 his associate
TO- in the conference. and with their ap
o- provai u was issued This warnin,
,or. against the worldwide spirit Of gral
var was thus his first important publ
rms utterance at the Peace Conference
The governments now associate
srn. in conference 70 effect iasttn
hat peace among the nations arc deepi
de- disturbed by the news which come
ntlv 10 them OF the many instances i
by which armed force is being made Us
n n, OF, in many parts OF Europe and III
,nca East, TO gain possession OF tsrritor,
.,,ra the rightful claim to which IN
,ess Peace Conference Is 20 be asked I
st.r determine. They deem it their duf
the 70 utter a solemn warning that poa
,ph- session gained by force will seriousi
ruc- prejudice the claims OF those WI
the use such means, y will create n
ons. presumption that those who emplo
this force doubt the justice and valiolt
our os their claim and propose to sui
will stftute possession for proof Of righ
with ana set UP sovereisnty oy coercio
must rather than by racial association
pas They thus put cloud upon ever
, all evidence OF title they may afterwAr
ma allege. and indicate their distrust
. 7, the conference itself. Nothing b,
The the most unfortunate results ca
y Al ensue. II they expect Justice. the
must refrain from force and piae
their claims IN unclouded good fais
.. IN the hands OF the conference {
'"-NN peace"
But his words at this time, as
shall show later. were words in n
sauy wind
7och rr,u r,o,.. c,o.k. .s
1Hu must not be considered apart fro.
.,' its setting; not as a sepsrate and &,
'NiOe tached body. calmly considerin
what was best for the world but
~ a stormy transition period betwee
Soe war and war psychology, and Il
best arrangement for peace th,
foct could be made at moment ST
rgu- dominated by the spirit OF war.
ascd was a time when men ~vandersd h,
rms tween two worlds. one dead, Il
( TO other pcweriess 20 be born