THE EDITOR RESERVES THE LAST COLUMN
The Editor Reserves . . . The Last Column THE forthcoming- Washington conference of the big powers—thrice postponed by the Soviet regime's disinclination to show its hand—see/ns a timely occasion...
...No treaties, no scraps of paper, no partial and no complete disarmament can hold off very long a war that we have planted in our maladjustment of conflicting economic interests...
...And yes, we shall have to tear down our tariff walls and open the whole world to free trade and traffic...
...They came to share a piece of news with their American colleagues and to get verification if possible...
...we can remove all the causes of war and set up no new causes of war.' "Clemenceau clucked in his throat, he pressed tight down the fingers of his gloves...
...We can do it...
...the Frenchmen asked...
...But we French cannot quite believe that you, our friends, neighbors, allies—that you really mean what you say...
...When they sit down to discuss plans for "permanent peace," we hope the Soviet, British, and American representatives will re-read the story told by the celebrated American reporter in his Autobiography...
...We French are willing, but are you willing, to pay the price, all those costs of no more war in the world?' ". . . the President and the Premiers protested that they did not mean all that, that that was not necessary, not all at once...
...President?' "Mr...
...and you Americans, Mr...
...Had the Americans heard of a dramatic scene at the meeting of the President and the Premiers...
...the table that morning and were about to proceed to business, M. Clemenceau, who was fiddling with his gray silk gloves, said, 'One moment, gentlemen...
...I desire before we go any further to make clear one very, essential point.' "The President and the Premiers halted and looked up expectantly at M. Clemenceau, who said: T have heard something about a permanent peace...
...Clemenceau, Wilson, and Lloyd George when two French newspaper men came to the American press room at the Hotel Crillon...
...nobody in the world wants war...
...But let Steffens continue with his story: " 'No,' I said...
...M. Clemenceau was, in ,this respect, so truly prophetic, and Lincoln Steffens so eternally right that I for one find it difficult to understand why so many otherwise intelligent Americans spend all their time brooding over how they're going to enforce the peace and almost no time resolving the maladjustments which make war inevitable...
...The Editor Reserves . . . The Last Column THE forthcoming- Washington conference of the big powers—thrice postponed by the Soviet regime's disinclination to show its hand—see/ns a timely occasion to reprint Lincoln Steffens' story of a dramatic moment at the Paris peace conference of a quarter of a century ago...
...we cannot any more govern them or exploit them or have the inside track in them...
...We can make this permanent peace...
...It is very expensive, peace...
...What costs?' they asked...
...As a young man he learned that there are causes of war and that the way to end war is to prevent war: by dealing with the causes thereof...
...But I would like to know—all the French would like to know—whether ytfu mean it, the permanent peace.' Counting The Cost "He looked at his colleagues and they nodded...
...We cannot possess the keys to trade routes and spheres of influence...
...Very important," M. Clemenceau muttered, as if convinced, as if the whole prospect were changing, and his whole policy...
...Tell us about it,' I urged...
...How To End Wars " 'Then,' said Clemenceau, sitting up straight and fisting the table sharply once, 'then you don't mean peace...
...Well, it is possible...
...we can make the permanent peace...
...M.H.R...
...we French shall have to come out of North Africa...
...You mean war.' " Steffens assured us that this was a true story in the sense that "it flashed out the difference between Wilson and Clemenceau and it explained Wilson's typical failure...
...Lloyd George, you English will have to come out of India, for example...
...Wilson did...
...Do you, Mr...
...And you, Mr...
...No, no, they did not mean exactly that...
...Wilson did not want peace, not literally...
...Clemenceau, Steffens pointed out, had seen things as a radical once...
...Oh, we can all go to these and other countries, but as tourists, traders, travelers...
...We do not want war...
...There has been a great deal of talk about a peace to end war forever, and I am interested in that...
...There was some hesitation at that...
...but some of us do want the things we can't have without war...
...Very important...
...President, you must get out of the Philippines and Puerto Rico and leave Cuba alone—and Mexico...
...And you have counted the cost of such a peace ?' he asked...
...You, Mr...
...So,' Clemenceau said, 'you really mean it...
...Premier?' "Mr...
...Then one of them told how, when the President and the Premiers sat down at...
...It was the afternoon of the third day of the secret meetings of the Messrs...
...Well,' said the French intelligence, 'if we give up all future wars—if we are to prevent war, we must give up our empires and all hope of empire...
...The great reporter noted, in conclusion, that we cannot have permanent peace because "we will not give up the things that cause wars...
...there are other sacrifices we, the dominant powers, would have to make...
...These are some of the costs of permanent peace...
...Lloyd George did...
...nor do we Americans, nor do the British, mean peace...
Vol. 8 • August 1944 • No. 34
