Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
BY RAYMOND PoINCARE.

10 we are incorrigiblel Here, at
the very moment when the
horizons on all sides of us are
- clouding, we seem to be search
ing for Heaven knows what kind
OF unhealthy pleasure in the reawak-
ening of old quarrels. Instead of re-
n1inding ourselves that tomorrow we
may have to face the gravest of eco
nomic difficulties and that we have got
to pull together to insure our triumph
over them, we are wasting our time on
mutual reproach and IN useless re-
examinations. What is the use? Why
do we not see ahead, go forward and
leave the past behind?
In Lorraine the wisdom Of the in
habitants has never more severely con-
demned the spirit of struggle. what
does it matter to U.S." they say, what
ought to have been done to establish
the solid foundation of peace? We
have known all the horrors of war at
the closest quarters and have no wish
to bring them back. All we ask Is that
the real friends of peace shall get to-
gether and agree, not only on what
they have got to do, but on what they
have got not to do to maintain it."
1t Is over IL years since, on the eve
of the day the treaty of Versailles was
to be signed. spoke these words to
President Wilson: I'VE are Just as
anxious as you that peace shall not
be just a meaningless word, nor just a
fugitive hope, nor just feeble glim-
mer passing one night over a bleeding
Europe" When I spoke these words 1
was confident was speaking for the
whole Of France; for, though we were
about TO recover our lost provinces, we
had experienced the terrors of invasion
and had fought only because we had
been forced to fight. We were thank
ful enough at length to be part of
world OF peace.
Has No Illusions.
Personally, however, did not allow
myself to enjoy any illusions about the
future. There were already indications
which showed us that we should have
to exercise a watchful control for a
long time to get the treaties carried
out. Ships promised to England and
sunk by their crews, French flags
burned by a delirious soldiery at Pots
dam, strange rumorS of arms along
the re-established frontiers of Poland
these were hardly signs Of the re-
pentance Of the conquered aggressors.
added to my remarks, just as
President Wilson was leaving France.
I'VE are just as anxious as you Tor the
League of Nations to become a reality
for the good Of the world. We are
just as anxious as you that all the
clauses our former enemies are going
to sign shall be Loyalty observed, with
out arriere-pensees and without any
false pretexts for escape. Real
peace can only come about as the re-
suit OF continuous creative effort, and
above all this effort has got to be the
collective effort of the member and as
soctate nations" President VIII
son answered me with the most friend
~ assurances, but, alasI he misjudged
his own influence and the collaboration
he promised us was soon to be refused
by the Nation he represented.
The security pact which Clemenceau'
had with such difficulty obtained was
repudiated in turn by the United States
and by Great Britain. These successive
POPULATIONS shook the main column Of
Versailles. France forced herself, none
theless, to stay the column up and to
build upon it the Temple Of Peace. My
country showed from the very beginning
q marvellous Natience in pursuing the