THE BEST BRAINS AT VERSAILLES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 214, 4 June 1919, Page 8

THE BEST BRAINS AT VERSAILLES

AMERICAN TRIBUTE TO BRITISH PEACE DELEGATION

• What is described by a London newspaper as "the most lucid and informative article yet published on the boaring of the league of Nations to the bntish Empire and to British policy is tlint by Mr. Frank H. Simonds {the wellknown American war correspondent), in the New York 'Times.'" "Britain,-" he eays, in opening, "is incomparably better represented at Paris on the technical and on the diplomatic side than any other of the Great Powers. There are more brains and better brains in the British delegation than in any other, .and these brains are concentrated upon a clearly thought-out programme. The lessons of the war have been more clearly understood, by British statesmen than any other; they alone .realise that the relations of great nations have been changed. The decisive role in the war and in the peace belongs to America for precisely the same reason thut Great Britain held it so often in the past. We have come' relatively fresh upon the stricken field. We alono are stilt strong, fighting, as well as, otherwise. Therefore it is necessary to recognise America. British policy has accepted this situation skilfully. "The keynote of British policy is that, there shall be no.break of any kind between America and England, that every conceivable concession shall bo made, large or small, on tho political, as contrasted with the economic phase, to the end that Anglo-American _ relations and Anglo-American friendship may be placed on a solid basis for tho future. In the matter of the League of Nations the thing was little more than a vague formula, even after Hr. Wilson had outlined his U points. At the moment when the President came to Europe it became the mission of the British to work out the President's ideas and give them form, to give them coherence, and they have done_ this. The Bcliome of the League of Nations which tho British have formulated seeks to preserve certain influences in the world. It is designed to servo certain things in the world. Before this groat conflict came Britain had reached the point of saturation in the matter of Imperial expansion. Her great problem had become to preserve, not to increase, and the burden of her Empire was morn and more heavily felt as domeetio conditions foreshadowed tho complete transformation at home. Germany struck at the moment whea she believed both the domestic problems and tho Imperial weariness would combine to ensure her success. She 'ailed, but even in her failure sho transformed many conditions. She upset the world that had existed, and she has etrewn threo continents with the ruins of ancient systems which must b* revised." , _ , _ . "Now tho chief concern of Groat. Britain as an Empire is India. India begins at Gibraltar, and, at least, extends to Hong-Kong. To protect India, now that Turkey is eliminated, it will be necessary to deal witli Mesopotamia mid Palestine and Syria just as it was necessary a generation ago to deal with hjfypt. Unless there can be some system devised which divides responsibility for the maintenance of States like Syria and Mesopotamia and Armenia, mid strategic points like' Constantinople, England will have to take most of them to protect India, or else surrender some of them to States who may develop colonies of thoir.own across the vital pathway to the Neni East. The Briton has taken to the League of Nations as a practical man. Ho ■was nearer to such an adjustment beforo the world war than any other European nation. Ho hopes that the Lenene of Nations will place the United btates as a mandatory of the Great Powers in Constantinople, in Aeia Minor, and in Central Africu. His ambition is not to take German territory, but to prevent German territory trom returning to the Gorman., or becoming for him a burden beyond his resources. Very frankly, therefore, Great. Britain at Paris is using tho LoagM of Nations and the association of America to supply guariinloes and buttresses for tlio immediate ami not too encouraging future. Sho feels herself not. strong enough to add to her butdens, so colossal on the Imperial side before the war, which in itself exhausted such an alarming fraction of her resources in men and money. She feels that, alone among tho Powers in tho world, America could tuko over ii portion of tlieso burdens without threatening British safety. Therefore, trom the hTst moment after I reached ■Europe I hoard on all sides from British people the same formula. It was tho duty of Americans to synaro their principles with their words, to apply the humanity and idealism, which was instinct m Mr. Wilson's speeches, to stand ready to do our part in the world to bring order and justice at once, and libration at the proper time, to oppressed nations. "The Lenguo of .Nations us it will lie worked out will,'unquestionably, bo a guarantee against war in the future within limits. It will have a beneficial effect upon the world, and tho principles expressed in it will have much ,to do Willi Uio facts that are developed ill making the peace itself. Hut fimdiisnentiilly this League of Nations ainonnls to an Anglo-American Alliance. Anil its chief models have been found in the machinery of tho British Empire as it existed, «utl have been the- contribution of the British. The League of Nations is an experiment in idealism for America. It is II fixed doctrine of foreign policy with Great Britain—Uio ono possiblo lacane of escape from a burden great now, ami buund to become greater in the future, an escape achieved by dividing (lie burden without increasing political cotnplii cfttioua,"