THE PEACE TREATY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1921, Page 3

THE PEACE TREATY

FOCH AND HIS VICTORY

LONDON Nov 18

Marshal Foch has broken silence with regard to his opinions of the Peace Conference, and, in an interview with a representatives of the “Matin”, he describes in detail the part he played in and befo:o the armistice.

He is clearly of the opinion that M. Clemenceau did not treat him properly, and is at pains to explain that the Allied Governments failed fully to exploit the completeness of the victory which; he had given them when the last shot was fired on the morning of November 11th. An armistice he declared, was a cessation of hostilities, the object- of which was to put the Governments which had consented to grant it in a position to impose the peace they desired. Did tho armistice which he signed fulfil that object?

“Yes,” the'Marshal continued, “since on June 28th, after seven months’ negotiations, Germany accepted all the Allied conditions. I had said to M. Clemenceau, the President du Conseil, ‘You can now make any kind of peace you like. lam in a position to enforce, it.’

“If the peace was not a good one, is that my fault? I did my work; it was then for the politicians and heads of Governments to do theirs I had I” va thinking about the peace for a lon., time. In September, 1918 > I wrote to M. Clemenceau, and said, ‘I he end of the war is drawing near. Send me a Foreign Office official to keep me inform; ed of the peace conditions you desire, so that our armies may occupy all regions which may serve as a guarantee for the execution of the Treaty which you arc going to make.’ M- Clemenceau answered. ‘That is not your business.' ”

After relating thy story of the nego-> tuitions with Erzberger and AVinterfeldt, Marshal Foch stated how, after the Germans had signed, he left for Paris, and early in the morning called on M. Clemenceau, who, in a grumbling humour, asked on what points lie had "yielded to the German demands. That said the Marshal, was of no particular importance, but "I then said to the Prime Minist<V, ‘M.v work is over; yours begins.’ ” After explaining that, he wan not given authority to offer his advice en the conditions of peace, Marshal Foch went on to declare that none thor less he had often seen M. Clemenceau on the subject and had handed him three written notes.

“The peace which was going to bo signed seemed to me to lie a had one. I summed it up thus; neither frontiers nor guarantees. For the security of France the Rhine frontier whs necessary—a military frontier, be it clearly understood, and not a political frontier. For the reparations due to France [ asked for the occupation of the left bank of the Rhine until the TVeaty was integrally executed, because in my opinion, that was the only way of obtaining these reparations.” After detailing the steps ho took to endeavour to obtain the adhesion of tho French statesmen to his views—incidentally the Marshal,declared that M. Poinoairo alono supported his point of view—lie told how, in the plenary sitting of May 6th., he rose and once agjain developed his tlienis. He was listened to in silence, and the sitting was closed. “As tea was being taken in a neighbouring room, I went to M. Clenienceau and said: ‘T had the honour of putting a question to you, and I should like an answer.’ Then I saw him talk animatedly for a minute or two with Mr Wilson and Mr Lloyd George. He returned and said to me: ‘Our answer is that there is no answer.’ I replied: ‘M. le President, I have now to ask myself if I shall be affile to accompany you to Versailles to-morrow. I am faced with as grave a problem for my conscience as ever I have known in my life. T repudiate this ■ Treaty, and in sitting down by your side Ido not want to share your responsibiltiy for it'.’ ” M. Clenienceau was displeased, and begged the Marshal to attend, and finally, after an intermediary had visited him, he decided that, he had not the right to withhold his presence. At Versailles he was by the side of M. Kioto, M. Clemenceau’s Minister of Finance. When the Treaty had been handed over lie said to him, “With ! such a treaty in your hands you can call at the German Empire’s paycounters—and you will only he paid in worthless cheques.” “And these were tho people,” concluded Marshal Foch, “to whom I had said: ‘Make what peace you will; I will take upon myself the responsibility for imposing it.’ ”