Source 3a
My Lord,
With the knowledge that the Peace Treaty has at last
actually been signed the populace of Paris has naturally
given itself up to a renewal of the gay scenes of merry-making witnessed at the time of the conclusion of the
Armistice, and the press to the utterance of all the sentiments
appropriate to the occasion. I have already
given Your Lordship an indication of public opinion as
expressed by the newspapers and I do not propose here to
repeat all the obvious remarks and views which are published
to-day, ranging from the paeans of triumph and
satisfaction over the defeat of the hated enemy and the
consummation of the "revanche" – mingled with the warnings
that the snake, though scotched, must still be carefully
watched and if necessary firmly handled …
Source 3b
The "Temps" this evening devotes a leading article to a
criticism of the statement made by General Smuts as to his
attitude of mind in signing the Treaty. …
General Smuts considers that the
Germans have already changed radically and irrevocably, and
"vaunts their new pacific temperament", and he wishes to
grant them mitigations: revision of certain territorial
clauses, abandonment of certain guarantees, suppression of
certain punishments, reduction of certain indemnities. The
"Temps" thinks that the General commits "an error in psychology
and an error in method": that he is mistaken not only
in the mentality of the Germans but in their needs: …
Source 3c
I have the honour to transmit to Your Lordship herewith
an extract from the "Temps" of this evening's issue, giving
the principal passages of this report, the complete text of
which will doubtless be published later. It lays stress on
the great advantages which accrue to France from the Treaty,
while criticising its inevitable imperfections from the purely
French point of view.
Monsieur Barthou describes the re-annexation of Alsace-Lorraine as the great asset which the Treaty has brought to
France. According to him, its imperfections lie in its failure
to destroy the unity of Germany, the lack of guarantees
indispensable for the continued existence of the Society of
Nations, and the inadequacy of the representation of France
therein, the insufficiency of the measures to ensure the full
reparation of war losses, …
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