Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-15
FAILURE TO VISIT RUINS
DISH LEASES FRENCHMEN
President Disappointing to Nation
Because He Does Not View
Devastated Areas.
COMPLAINTS ARE OFTEN HEARD
Men and Women Who Suffered From
Huns Atrocities Freely Criticize
Wilson'S Seeming Disintcrcstcdncss
Regarding Ruined Cities.
by NABOTII uEDIN.

PARIS. Feb. I4.-Wherein has presi-
dent Wilson most disappointed the
II is not his insistence upon pub
ieity which ended with she practice
lhat the French originally favored
secret Diplomacy forever.
IL IL not his opposition to the Rus
French dislilSed.
1t is no, his pr2posal for confer
ence with the Bolshcvists, because
somehow the russians must pay their
debts.
1t is not his action in giving the So
ciety OF nations title to the German
colonies. because France viii get her
share.
It is not the admission OF the Arab
delegates. because 1t will be impos-
sibIe 10 ignore Frances claim for a
mandate OF Syria.
IT is not the founding of the society
Germany. because the new arn!st!ce
conditions. which Mr.. Wilson approves,
satisfy the French.
1t il not his own personality. be-
cause Paris really likes the Wilson
smile and enjoys his sociahility at so
cial parties, etc. while Mrs. Wilson is
assured OF n majority In any election
which she might enter.
Il is not golf Or any "Britishness."
IT Is not his idcalism, because the
French really like large conception in
tho abstract.
DlSPLEASED AT FAILURE
TO VISIT RUINED REGIONS
I; is his failure to visit the devastated
regions. The single days trip 70
rheims which he took is regarded as
insufficient and the main reason why.
he French wanted MIR. Wilson to cross
the ocean was to see ;he damages.
Criticism on this score is expressed
only Ruardedly in print. but wherever
French men and French women discuss
President Wilson this is the first point
preached.
And just think, Wilson hasn't seen
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Verdun nor Arras,
nor Ypres. nor the Sommc country: he
made only quick trip to Rheims.
Such is the complaint commonly heard.
Perhaps the Presidents critics do
not credit him with imagination. but
experience proves that In this matter,
only seeing is understanding" See
ing one village shat Is ruined gives
the same impression as secing the
ruins OF any large fre at home. See
ing Il ruined town Is a little more inn
pressivc. hut seeing third. a fourth
riding for hours. and a whole day and
seeing only ruins-that staggers the
human brain.
This writer recently asked a prom!-
nent American magazine editor return
ing from Il weeks trip through the
devastated area whether his impress
sions differed from his anticipations
Il have published more war stuff
that anybody and read more. have
seen !nnumerable pictures. But the
reality / have seen is infinitely more
tragic than one can Imagine"
IL the sights thus impress foreign
ers, how much more intensely must
tic natives feel. who hold every spo;
in shat wrecked area precious because
1t is the soil OF their mothcrland and
the destroyed works were the works
OF their fellow countrymen and wo
men,
Unless President Wilson defnitel.
engages himself to make n rhorougt
inspection OF the devastated region.
both OF France and Belgium the first
thing after his return from America
/ Will not venture to predict the nature
OF his reception.
His failure 10 look AZ the marks OF
the horrors OF war before going &c
London and Rome was. in the opinion
Of shrewd observers here the Presi-
dents gravest nisjudgment OF French
psychology. The horrors and the de-
struction constitute the one point upon
which all French agree.