immediately reversed this decision, but the
final adoption of the Covenant was delayed by the demand of Japan that
a clause be inserted establishing "the principle of equality of nations
and just treatment of their nationals," which would have brought within
the jurisdiction of the League the status of Japan's subjects in
California and in the British dominions. France urged the inclusion of
a provision creating a permanent General Staff to direct the military
operations of the League, and Belgium insisted that Brussels rather
than Geneva should be the seat of the League. Meanwhile other national
aspirations were also brought forward which delayed the general treaty
of peace. France wanted the entire left bank of the Rhine; Italy put
forth a claim to Fiume; and Japan, relying on secret agreements with
England, France, and Italy, insisted on her claims to Shantung. No
economic settlement had as yet been agreed upon, and the question of
reparations was threatening the disruption of the Conference.

The most difficult problem that the Conference had to solve was the
establishment of a new Franco-German frontier. There was no question
about Alsace-Lorraine. That had been disposed of by the Fourteen
Points, and Germany had acquiesced in its return to France in the
pre-Armistice agreement. But no sooner was the Armistice signed than
Foch addressed a note to Clemenceau, setting forth the necessity of
making the Rhine the western frontier of Germany. The Left Bank,
extending from Alsace-Lorraine to the Dutch frontier, embraced about
10,000 square miles and 5,500,000 people. The debate on this question
continued at intervals for six months and at times became very
acrimonious. The French representatives did not demand the direct
annexation of the Left Bank, but they proposed an independent or
autonomous Rhineland and French, or inter-Allied, occupation of the
Rhine for an indefinite period, or at least until the full execution by
Germany of the financial clauses of the treaty. Both the British and
American delegates opposed the French proposals. Lloyd George
repeatedly said: "We must not create another Alsace-Lorraine." He also
remarked on one occasion: "The strongest impression made upon me by my
first visit to Paris was the statue of Strasburg veiled in mourning.
Do not let us make it possible for Germany to erect a similar statue."

This discussion was being carried on with great earnestness and
intensity of fe