Title
Paris Press Summary No. 6
Creator
Committee on Public Information
Identifier
WWP15657
Date
1919 February 3
Description
A summary of Peace Conference news items from the French Press, dated 3 February and 4 February 1919.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
PARIS PRESS SUMMARY
MORNING PAPERS - PRESIDENT WILSON’S RECEPTION
AT THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
LE FIGARO: M. Alfred Capus says: “In his reply to M. DeschanelPresident Wilson has given to be understood that the protection of the French frontiers is one of the main objects of the Society of Nations The acknowledgment is particularly interesting. It proves the raison d’etre of the society and the nucclleus around which it will be formed, if it is to be something else than a myth or a relic.”
LE GAULOIS: In his magnificent speech of which we so vividly appreciate the sincerely affectionate tone with regard to our country, President Wilson appeared convinced of the role which is vested in France. May we be permitted to wish that at a time of grave decisions, President Wilson remembers it.
LE PETIT PARISIEN: If the elected chief of the great American republic was able to live yesterday a magnificent hour in the course of which he could feel, through the words of the president of the French representatives, the pulsations of France’s heart, why should we not ourselves see in this unequaled ceremony a fresh pledge of the Franco-American brotherhood, in the name of which President Wilson has worked more than anybody else?
L’HOMME LIBRE: President Wilson comes from a progeny of which we are proud: the great French ideals advocated by a great American standing on a platform of the French chamber. Could there be a finer homage rendered to France and to the Society of Nations?
L’HUMANITE: Yesterday President Wilson entered into contact, if not with the French people themselves, at least with their most direct representative. Ir was a beautiful ceremony, similar to all those which previously have taken place and undoubtedly to all those which still will follow. It has not cemented the intimate union of Wilsonian thought with French politics. On the contrary, it once more has pointed out, in spite of all official flattery, the opposition of the two principles which since the cessation of the war are combatting each other everywhere.
LA VICTOIRE: President Wilson’s speech, however overflowing with affectionate manifestations for France, leaves some bitterness to more than one Frenchman. The salvation is in the Society of Nations undoubtedly to some extent, but, above all, the salvation is in ourselves.
LE MATIN: Leaving the Chamber of Deputies, President Wilson passed between two statues: that of Washington and that of Lafayette Thus the noble idealist, the creator of a future world, passed between the two idealists, heroes of bygone times.
LA PETITE REPUBLIQUE: The enthusiastic audience drew from the fine reply of President Wilson a marvellous sensation of a definite, solid and strong peace issued from the cooperation of grand nations in the world of right and justice.
LA VERITE: The President of the United States from the French tribune has pronounced the most magnificent speech ever heard and applauded in any parliament. Never before, too, did President Wilson attain the highest summit of human eloquence. No public speaker of any other country or other times ever excelled him.
LIBRE PAROLE: President Wilson received from the nation’s representatives a welcome never before gicven to the chief of a state: all those of parliamentary etiquette were set aside so that a more striking proof might be given of the universal and deep sympathy of France for the Republic of the United States and her head.
LA FRANCE LIBRE: President Wilson has risen so high in the esteem and respect of men that his utterances assume a solemn and almost sacred character. For having revived in the hearts of mankind the weak and staggering hope of a universal peace, President Wilson has created for himself a great duty. His speech yesterday in the French parliament proves that ehe is fully aware of his tremendous issue as well as of its formidable difficulties.
LE RAPPEL: France may be satisfied of yesterday’s ceremony. It cements between the two great nations a moral point, the aims of which are noble among all: to ensure happiness to all the nations by peace, order and work.
_______PAGE A.
FEBRUARY 4, 1919.
PARIS PRESS SUMMARY.
FEBRUARY 3, 1919.
Monday morning’s papers, most of which appear on two pages, devote their columns to three topics of the day, viz., the visit of the Serbian prince, the proposed government measures against war profiteering, and the high cost of living; and particularly to the question of the Briey Bassin. With regard to the latter subject LE PETIT JOURNAL has interviewed Marshal Joffre, General Messimy, General Lanrezac and General Nivelle. LE MATIN also publishes some interviews, among which Marshal Joffre’s statement is the most noteworthy. In reply to the question why the Briey Bassin had not been shelled, he says: “This question is merely political and I don’t want to be mixed up with parliamentary quarrels.” Besides,” Marshal Joffre added “I am editing the history of what has been done under my command and which will contain documentary truths.”
In L’HUMANITEAnatole France, the great French writer, pleads the case of Greece. “Enemy of all imperialism, formally opposed to the spirit of conquest wherever it may come from, considering as criminal the distribution of territories, according to princes’ ambitions or capitalists’ cupidities.......I would look without any favor on the claims orf the Greek State if I discovered any secret ambition.....But why should not Greece gather all those of her children who wish to belong to her and who remember perhaps vaguely those brilliant times when the Hellenes of Europe and those of Asia gave to the world wisdom and beauty.”
MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.
LA LIBRE PAROLE: “The Ten Commandments of the Rhine,” by Jean Izoulet, Professor of Social Philosophy at the College cde France.
FEBRUARY 3, 1919. Evening Papers.
LE TEMPS. Commenting upon President Wilson’s first meeting with the Commission appointed by the Conference in order to prepare the League of Nations, LE TEMPS says: “According to President Wilson himself, this meeting was only a sketch meeting. Public opinion, however, does not stop at this title, which is too modest....The public hopes in any case to be kept informed of the deliberations which are beginning today. If ever it was desirable to give up secret diplomacy, it is now that the time has arrived to appeal to the conscience of the whole world.”
### ### ###
MORNING PAPERS - PRESIDENT WILSON’S RECEPTION
AT THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
LE FIGARO: M. Alfred Capus says: “In his reply to M. DeschanelPresident Wilson has given to be understood that the protection of the French frontiers is one of the main objects of the Society of Nations The acknowledgment is particularly interesting. It proves the raison d’etre of the society and the nucclleus around which it will be formed, if it is to be something else than a myth or a relic.”
LE GAULOIS: In his magnificent speech of which we so vividly appreciate the sincerely affectionate tone with regard to our country, President Wilson appeared convinced of the role which is vested in France. May we be permitted to wish that at a time of grave decisions, President Wilson remembers it.
LE PETIT PARISIEN: If the elected chief of the great American republic was able to live yesterday a magnificent hour in the course of which he could feel, through the words of the president of the French representatives, the pulsations of France’s heart, why should we not ourselves see in this unequaled ceremony a fresh pledge of the Franco-American brotherhood, in the name of which President Wilson has worked more than anybody else?
L’HOMME LIBRE: President Wilson comes from a progeny of which we are proud: the great French ideals advocated by a great American standing on a platform of the French chamber. Could there be a finer homage rendered to France and to the Society of Nations?
L’HUMANITE: Yesterday President Wilson entered into contact, if not with the French people themselves, at least with their most direct representative. Ir was a beautiful ceremony, similar to all those which previously have taken place and undoubtedly to all those which still will follow. It has not cemented the intimate union of Wilsonian thought with French politics. On the contrary, it once more has pointed out, in spite of all official flattery, the opposition of the two principles which since the cessation of the war are combatting each other everywhere.
LA VICTOIRE: President Wilson’s speech, however overflowing with affectionate manifestations for France, leaves some bitterness to more than one Frenchman. The salvation is in the Society of Nations undoubtedly to some extent, but, above all, the salvation is in ourselves.
LE MATIN: Leaving the Chamber of Deputies, President Wilson passed between two statues: that of Washington and that of Lafayette Thus the noble idealist, the creator of a future world, passed between the two idealists, heroes of bygone times.
LA PETITE REPUBLIQUE: The enthusiastic audience drew from the fine reply of President Wilson a marvellous sensation of a definite, solid and strong peace issued from the cooperation of grand nations in the world of right and justice.
LA VERITE: The President of the United States from the French tribune has pronounced the most magnificent speech ever heard and applauded in any parliament. Never before, too, did President Wilson attain the highest summit of human eloquence. No public speaker of any other country or other times ever excelled him.
LIBRE PAROLE: President Wilson received from the nation’s representatives a welcome never before gicven to the chief of a state: all those of parliamentary etiquette were set aside so that a more striking proof might be given of the universal and deep sympathy of France for the Republic of the United States and her head.
LA FRANCE LIBRE: President Wilson has risen so high in the esteem and respect of men that his utterances assume a solemn and almost sacred character. For having revived in the hearts of mankind the weak and staggering hope of a universal peace, President Wilson has created for himself a great duty. His speech yesterday in the French parliament proves that ehe is fully aware of his tremendous issue as well as of its formidable difficulties.
LE RAPPEL: France may be satisfied of yesterday’s ceremony. It cements between the two great nations a moral point, the aims of which are noble among all: to ensure happiness to all the nations by peace, order and work.
_______PAGE A.
FEBRUARY 4, 1919.
PARIS PRESS SUMMARY.
FEBRUARY 3, 1919.
Monday morning’s papers, most of which appear on two pages, devote their columns to three topics of the day, viz., the visit of the Serbian prince, the proposed government measures against war profiteering, and the high cost of living; and particularly to the question of the Briey Bassin. With regard to the latter subject LE PETIT JOURNAL has interviewed Marshal Joffre, General Messimy, General Lanrezac and General Nivelle. LE MATIN also publishes some interviews, among which Marshal Joffre’s statement is the most noteworthy. In reply to the question why the Briey Bassin had not been shelled, he says: “This question is merely political and I don’t want to be mixed up with parliamentary quarrels.” Besides,” Marshal Joffre added “I am editing the history of what has been done under my command and which will contain documentary truths.”
In L’HUMANITEAnatole France, the great French writer, pleads the case of Greece. “Enemy of all imperialism, formally opposed to the spirit of conquest wherever it may come from, considering as criminal the distribution of territories, according to princes’ ambitions or capitalists’ cupidities.......I would look without any favor on the claims orf the Greek State if I discovered any secret ambition.....But why should not Greece gather all those of her children who wish to belong to her and who remember perhaps vaguely those brilliant times when the Hellenes of Europe and those of Asia gave to the world wisdom and beauty.”
MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.
LA LIBRE PAROLE: “The Ten Commandments of the Rhine,” by Jean Izoulet, Professor of Social Philosophy at the College cde France.
FEBRUARY 3, 1919. Evening Papers.
LE TEMPS. Commenting upon President Wilson’s first meeting with the Commission appointed by the Conference in order to prepare the League of Nations, LE TEMPS says: “According to President Wilson himself, this meeting was only a sketch meeting. Public opinion, however, does not stop at this title, which is too modest....The public hopes in any case to be kept informed of the deliberations which are beginning today. If ever it was desirable to give up secret diplomacy, it is now that the time has arrived to appeal to the conscience of the whole world.”
### ### ###