Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-14

lions between the United
States and the various coun-
tries of Europe are about to
enter a new phase. All over the con-
tinent there are Indications that Eu-
ropean peoples and governments are
now seeking to escape from that vir-
tual domination of European affairs
by the United States which. to q
greater or lesser degree. has endured
from the moment when both the as
sociate and enemy governments al
most year ago consented to an ar
mistice following an acceptance of
the fourteen points. From that hour
to the present America has consis-
tentIy dominated the peace confer
ence. and if American proposals have
frequently been modified, we are just
reaching the point where they are be-
ing deliberately set aside.
After eleven months, it is possible
in some measure and with a degree of
perspective to review the circum-
stances of the first American venture
into world politics and European af-
fairs on the diplomatic as contrasted
with the military side. The great
American adventure, to bring a peace
of understanding and Cancellation to
the world. and to bring about a re-
organization of the world, within the
league of nations. has now been long
enough under trial to permit exami-
nation Of the result.
The immediate Justification and
warrant of President Wilson's journey
to the peace conference was the &C.
ceptance by enemy and associated
governments alike of his fourteen
points as the basis OF peace. Mr.. Will
son concluded that this acceptance
meant that those who officially agreed
actually subscribed to the principles
expressed in these fourteen points. He
DeIleVed that the masses of the vari-
Gus nations. German quite as much as
french, austrian equally with Italian.
saw what he saw in the league of ma
IONS, were prepared to make the sac
rlnces necessary to remove all the
causes of rivalry and of grudee and
to enter new world without SURVIVE
ing antipathies.
Attitude on Fourteen Points.
Now, what were the facts? In the
hrst' place it seems reasonably. clear
inithe light of subsequent events that
the fourteen points were not accented
Dy any people in the sense Mr.. will
son and large numbers of American
people believed they had been accept
of supreme political disaster. seized
upon Mr.. Wilson's proposal as the
single alternative to invasion. They
oeileved that Mr.. Wilson would so
press his fourteen points that Ger
many would escape the logical conse-
quences of her attack upon her
nelenoors. and they recognize that,
might fall. nothing could be worse
tnan the future which stared her in
the lace in October, 1913.
Our associates. on the contrary rec
oenfzed that any break with Mr.. viii
sSe t sS sfate in the s presence q
De IataL ana might easily enable the
II the terms of the armistice were
Drawn by them that Germany would
De oisarmed and helpless and that
provided they continued to control
tne making and application of the
armistice terms. they could afford to
" ehc Aulufe the discussion OF
the fourteen points. These fourteen
points were only oficially accepted
oy our associates. They had never eff
fected Judgment IN the minds of the
statesmen or the soldiers controlling
allied affairs. nor were they general
ly known or widely accepted by the
nations
In point Of fact, therefore. neither
OF the European groups Of powers ac-
cepted the American proposals in the
sense in which they were made. To
the Germans these proposals held out
promise Of reduction. Of the PEN
aitles they had incurred. mitigation
OF the extent of their punishment. To
the allies they meant little more than
words of the precise sort which had
been uttered from the very beginning
of the struggle. not in insincerity, but
with a frank recognition of the linn
itations which actuality always places
upon abstract fdealism. It was not in
the minds Of those who subscribed to
Mr.. Wilson's proposals for our asso-
cIates that those proposals would be
applied against them nor were they
yet able to think of anything except
the single objective on which they
had concentrated their attention for
more than four years-nameIy, the
defeat Of Germany.
Presidents Conception.
When Mr.. Wilson went to Europe
he carried with him the conviction
that the application of the fourteen
points and the creation of the league
of nations would insure a peace of
understanding between continental
peoples and future safeguard
against war He found, in the welcome
which awaited him from, all the pub
lies of the countries which had been
further proof that the principles
which he advocated had effected
Judgment. in the minds and hearts Of
the millions of European citizens of
various nations. He was convinced
that the French people. the Italian
people, the members of the different
races newly liberated. those who lived
in countries only yesterday hostile,
would rally behind him in his DELHI
crate purpose to translate the four
teen points from language into fact.
Now, it is essential to recognise
that when Mr.. Wilson went to Eu-
him the position Of commanding in
in the peace conference. Every
nation around the table
was our debtor. Not only this, but
every associated nation was, by rea-
SON Of its recent losses and war ex-
bound to seek in America
still further losses. still greater aids.
Mr.. Wilson represented the greatest
nation in the world in effective mill
tary resources and in unimpaired
financial reserves. His country was at
this precise moment still feeding mil
lions of French. Belgians. Poles. 1tal-
hnT