The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

| Perhaps neither Englishmen nor Amer
leans in great numbers take account in
reading the annals OF their countries for
the years 1912. 1913. and 1914 of the fact
that the treaty of peace negotiated and
signed in the city of Client in Belgium
was, in a large measure. the result Of
1 fortuitous circumstances Furthermore.
few of them, doubtless, remember that
at the moment of the conclusion of the
negotiations there was a powerful move
ment on foot in America, with both
Madison and Monroe as its active pro-
moters. to put new vigor into the war
against Great Britain with the immedi-
| ate object of making a complete con-
quest Of Canada and all its dependent
territory to Hudson's Bay and the Paci-
| fic, and that It was proposed to raise a
| new army of 10000 men for this pur-
pose in addition to that already in the
| field.
| In America, England, and Belgium
celebrations Of the peace pact of Decem-
Der, "a. 1914, have been planned. and
some of the preparations have already
been commenced. Until this present year
there seems to have been little interest
in the details of the actual making of
the treaty and less in the local setting
of the long-drawn-out negotiations. Yet
both those branches Of the subject offer
much that is curious and significant.
Client Interesting City.
Client is. in many respects, the most
interesting city in Belgium. and yet it is
comparatively little known to the ma
, jority of tourists. Among the consider
able number of its monuments of CAPT.
tai Importance it is not surprising that
the plain. almost featureless convent
building. in which the treaty of 1914
was signed, should wholly escape the at
tention Of the ordinary visitor. The
guide books do not mention 1t, what oc
CURED there. and 1t requires rather dill
gent inquiry to find any one in the city
who knows anything of that portion of
its history and can direct you to its
door Before next year all this will be
different, for the house OF the Carthu-
slams of the dreary Place des Chartreux
will then have been swept and garnished
for the reception of the many Americans
and British whom the people OF Client
fondly hope to welcome to the commem
orative ceremonies to be held there.
The element of fortune seems to have
manifested itself at many points in the
course of the peace negotiations, which
dragged on in somewhat desultory
manner through six weary months. The
stances which I will explain later. were
quartered at the ancient convent Of the
Carthusians, but the American represent
atives established themselves for the
time being in the Rue des Champs, in
the very center of the city, near the Ca
thedral of Saint Bavon and the Hotel de
Vile. The joint conferences of the en-
voys Of both nations were held alter
nately in these places, and 1t was there
for oil, ohor boz varyth tv,v
else, that determined the signing of the
treaty at the House of the Carthusians
Had the signing been deferred until one
other session the mansion in the Rue des
Champs in the regular course OF things
would have been the scene. This man.
sion in it's present state would be far
less serviceable for the purpose of the
centennial exercises than 10 the former
Carthusian convent.
Negotiations Delayed.
The British Minister. Castlereagh. pur-
sued what might be fguratively termed
'hand-to-mourh'' policy in his instruc-
lions to his ENJOYS at Client. All seemed
to depend from week to week upon the
varying chances of battle in America
Two months were wasted by order of
after the American commits
sioners arrived at Client before the nego-
more than another month had elapsed
that they had the first definite hope |
that the British really meant something
like serious business
Between June and the latter part of
December many combats had taken place |
in America and Canada. The news of
the burning Of the Capitol at Washing |
ton by the British under Gen. Ross was
received in Client on October !, but after |
that came the tidings Of the American
successes on Lake Erie and at Baltimore. |
1t was not until fifteen tags after the |
treaty had been signed that the battle !
of New Orleans was fought. and the fact |
that peace had been concluded was as
yet unknown in America.
There is good ground for the opinion |
that the British reverses which followed
the raid upon Washington were in real
ity a piece Of good fortune for the gov
eminent Of the prince regent, afterward |
George ~ II the treaty of peace had
not been signed in December the Ameri-
can nation was in the mood to have
made good the threat of the conquest
and definitive annexation of Canada and
the British Northwest. A little more
than a month after the victory of New
Orleans. before the signing of the Client
treaty was known at Washington. a re-
markable pamphlet, which has been at
tributed both to Madison and to Monroe.
was issued to the extent OF a million
copies. making a strenuous appeal to the
people of the United States Of America
TO prepare for a new campaign in 1915
against the British, and Ito sweep them
from the Continent Of North America"
II proposed a levy of 100000 men.
The pamphlet had but just come from
the press when ship arrived with the
Of the result of the nego-
tiations at Client. The circulation of the
appeal was at once suspended. What
would probably have happened If British
delays at Client had continued little
longer and the trenchant truths set
forth in the pamphlet, in a style as for
,ible as that of any Of the writer's of
he Federalist. had sunk deep into the
hearts of those to whom it Vas ad-
dressed That Is one Of the questions of
which historical commentaries are full
md which the sphinx Of destiny will
never answer.
The proposal to drive the British from
North America had a resounding echo on
he Continent of Europe, especially in
France. An admirable truslation Of 1t,
made Immediately after it had been writ
en- (perhaps by arrangement with Mon
zoe, VINO was Secretary of State and
lad been Minister Plenipotentiary at
oaris) is to be found in the Bibliothequel
Rationale in that city.
City Being Restored.
Client has for several years been carry
ng on the most extraordinary series OF ]
historical. antiquarian, land artistic res
the most extensive I