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Show QUICK TIME MADE. Premier Lloyd George, defending the fence eonferer.ee in the house of commons, y leaded that "those who were trying their best be let alone."' The premier had been severely criticized End returned to London for the r'jrrc.e of replying to his critics. He did not evade any of the issues raised. Neither did he seek to escape the consequences of the promises made during the recent parliameutry campaign. What he said was direct to the point, and his words ! carried conviction. He explained the difficulties under which the conferees were laboring:, and said the situation was "still full of perils for all countries." coun-tries." Thcc perils will hang over the world until the pact is sealed, signed and delivered, as evey close observer of passing events is well aware. There n.ay be trouble niter the ratification of the treaty, which means that the strength of the league cf rations will be tested, in all human jrobabiiity, at the very outset of its existence. Xo doubt the conferees will supply such safeguards as can he devised, and it is reasonable to suppose that the signatory powers will endeavor to be prepared to deal with every situation that may arise. But this is not the proper time to in-'t3u!ge"in in-'t3u!ge"in speculation upon the afterclap. Good progress is being made at Versailles, Ver-sailles, although, as Mr. Lloyd George truly remarkei, no conference in history his-tory had been faced with problems of such variety, complexity, magnitude and cravitv. He also pointed out that the congress of Vienna, which w.-.s the nearest near-est approach to it, took eleven months for its work. He felt justified in remarking re-marking that the Vienna congress sank into insignificance as compared with what had been settled' by this congress. Iu discussing charges. made in the L'nitel States as well as in England, that time had Veen wasted in discussion of the league of nations plan, the premier pre-mier declared that time had been saved instead of waste 1. as the league would provide a means, of ad;uitmeni cf all possible errors. Xo body of men ever worked harder, he declared, while "stones were ciattering on the roof and coming through the windows and wild men "were screaming through the keyhole,'' key-hole,'' as the discussions upon vital issues proceeded. Concerning Bolshevism, the premier declared that he "would rather leave Eussia Bolshevik until they see their ffsv out cf it than see Great Britain landed in bankruptcy." He denied that anv approaches for peace had been male by the Bussinn government. He also said that he was convinced that military intervention in Russia would be an act of the greatfst stupidity. The .representative? of the powers assembled r.t Versailles doubtless concur in this view, for it h3S been evident for some time that the allies had no intention of intervening. It is also evident that Bolshevism is confidently expected to die out gradually as soon as the league of nations covenant becomes effe-tive. In this connection, Mr. Lloyd George 'aid that "re"i::b!e evi lence shows that while the Boi.-he'. iki force was arpar-entiv arpar-entiv crowing, Bolshevism itself was era iuaily waning breaking down before be-fore the relentless f'rce of economic faMs." ! The reop'e cf Great Britain will soon h2ve an o port unity to judge of the work perform- 1, for the German dele-rates dele-rates h'tve been summoned to Veraiiies, j the L'th of the re-sent month being the 'i.ito set for their arrival. We do ! not 1 tdve ti.ey will e-o mue'h time lie- fr.ro affixing their signatures to the treritv of peai o. Innr.e iiri'ely following-this following-this eeremonv Bresid- nt Wilson will sail l for home on the GcrL'e Washington, i leavin-r mineir de-tails to lie- worked out bv the e-:':,er Amerioan delegates. tpon hi- arri1. rl r-riiif'H will he ralle 1 in J ex'r.aordir.nry '';-in, a:.d the en-.'ie e-f j r.nti'.n. v. hi h h ;b'-jMi art of the : e ire;;--, v. iii r'-nv hrf'.'o the sen. j :.U- for rr.f. -".tie:,. I tt, ; a: a : i v,!y ff-.v I , e. : t.o.v 1 he-, e- t!;;.t :t - ,11 or .'h'clbl j I c re ; !. T'.. i !. b'en r-i.;e i ff,,rt it; on the Tti.-t ef i ; ,p:t j. d -1 h to ,wiw di -en-ion atr.'-iii.' the a.i.e i ei,,-,;,: ru", and there hi;-. .. le-e;, .ir.ts ti.at .: ( the nation na-tion r ' p :ee t,1 r-I r. t 'er-:iibq v.e.1,11 ref'.-e t,, r titv :).e r- :,-.ei,; ;--n hp.-ni.--e ail r-f ti.-.r d'lj -i :.-! - hrn e nd l-e,-n 1. It ! a ,.v..n 1 : ..! 1 that i 1-e rf,...., J-!-,'. - ! I IP-K.pe ,,T. be. n i,.- I i y .-7 I.e.; d .. ", v- ho ! I j clared that comple harmony existed. i Of course, there will be some disappointment disappoint-ment in various countries wdiose peop'le expected more than the conference will I allow them. This is only natural, and it does not indicate that ratification : will be withheld on that account. I Japan, Italy and France have been mentioned men-tioned in this connection, but there is no reason to suppose that the statesmen states-men of these nations have any such plan in view, since they all know that j failure of the league of nations plan I means another great war as soon as j combinations can be made. |