Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-18
HOW COL. HOUSE
WON THE ALLIES
Persuaded Them to Let Seas
Freedom and Indemnity Be
ParIey Subjects.
nv DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1s1s by N. 7. Evening Post. Incl
PARIS, December 17.-Mr. Wilson
has had from Col. House a complete
account of everything that was said
'nnd done at the informal conferences
among European statesmen prior to
his arrival. A plan Of action and
method of approaching the difhcu1t
questions that will arise in the con-
ference among rulers and foreign sec
retaries has now been formulated.
The President will do business for the
present with Great Britain, France
and Italy, occasionally consulting the
other belligerents. This is necessary
in order to get the most powerful bel
ligerents into early agreement.
Brings Change of Mind.
Col. House has told Mr.. Wilson the
details of his talk with Lloyd George,
CIemenceau and Orlando. Some day
there will be an interesting narrative
of how European statesmen came re-
luctantly to decide to accept the four
teen points, with only two reserva-
tions. They were disposed to make
such exceptions, respecting territory
and other questions. as to cause ap-
prehension of possible break, but
were won over when they were in
formed that the President might have
to lay all the details before the Amer
ican Congress and ask how far the
American people would be willing to
fight for distinctly British. French or
Italian war aims.
! While these preliminary confer
! ences ended harmoniously, the two ex-
ceptions takenLfreedom of the seas
and ndemnity-emphasize the large
points of difference which still pre-
vailed. England at first took the po-
sition that nobody had a right even
to discuss the freedom of the seas,
and the other belligerents wanted such
large indemnity as to cripple Ger
many for generations, and which, ac-
cording to the American point of view.
would bring about bolshevism, thus
making it impossible for Germany to
pay anything toward restoration.
Allies Are Persuaded.
By insisting that America wished
durable peace and not to be party
to new balance of power in Europe
Col. House, speaking for Mr.. Wilson.
abandon several exceptions and to
leave the subjects Of freedom of the
seas and indemnity for discussion by
the peace congress. 1t now becomes
necessary for Mr.. Wilson to strength
en- and amplify the views expressed
by Col. House, SO that an informal
agreement can be reached upon which
the peace congress can OPEN
nasmJch as Germany will not par
ticipate in the conferences until the
allies agree definitely upon program.
and since Germany will be compelled
to sign a peace, just as the armistice
feels a responsibility to see that ar
rangements are made that will lead to
a real peace instead of new balance
of power against the United States or
against the central empires. with the
constant necessity Of maintaining arma-
mant Mr.. Wilson will strongly insist
,non the creation of a league of nations
az the fundamental thing. with the ad-
mission of Germany probationary for
: the time, dependent upon her ability To
establish stable government ana ols-
charge her international obligations.
which is merely another way of saying
that all the powers will wait to see what
kind of government. arises before ac-
cordine the usual diplomatic recognition
Would Follow Peoples Wishes.
Mr. Wilson feels that it is hardly
worth while for America to participate
in a peace congress unless the treaty
drawn up is guaranteed support by a
league of nations Moreover. Mr.. Will
son has told his friends that neither he
nor other statesmen can sit in Paris
imagining themselves lords and masters
of mankind. authorized to make any
treaty agreeable to themselves, but that
If viii be absolutely necessary to deter
mine what the peoples Vant, for 1t was
their war. and the business Of the peace
congress is to find out the people s
wishes and follow them.
Mr., Wilson believes that what the
people most want is to be protected
against future wars and anything
tending to dissension and friction
among races, any new menaces mean
ing more bloodshed. must be eliminat.
| ed. His viewpoint is really not what
shall each Of US get. but what shall
each deny himself. 1ndemnities car
| be extortion, 1t must be remembered
and the sentiment Of socialists and