The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-17
WILSON MAY START
FOR U. s. FEB. is
Established Reputation on
Firmest Foundation in Four
Weeks. Paris Says.
BIG AID TO PEACE PLAN
Presidents Presence Has Had
Marked Effect on Anglo
American Relations.
Special Cdbio Despatch 10 Tnr SrN from the
london Times Ssrrice.

Special Cdbjo Despatch TO Tnr SrN from the
london Times Serrice.
Copyright 1919 al rights reserrod
! rAR,e. .'an. 16.-President wilson
half over. This day next month he will
according to present plans, have started
Tor be about to start for the United
States. IT Is an open secret that Presi
parture that a ground work OF principles
will have been reached for league OF
nations which thanks in no small de-
gree TO his influence. is taking its part
in the forefront OF the conference pro-
gramme.
There is reason to believe he contem-
plates returning to Paris later II cir
cumstances appear to demand his pres
lence.
Whether anything definite can be &C
comp,lshed toward a league OF nations
by the middle OF next month, and even
IL he does not return during the spring
and summer II can in the meantime be
confidently asserted that President Will
son has done enough already to assure
for himself a conspicuous place among
the constructive and practical statesmen
OF the age. His position Is recognized
to be Immensely stronger than when
he arrived.
Circumstances Against Him.
When he came in circumstances were
not altogether in his favor. The party
OF which in the United States he Is SC
conspicuous a leader had Just been
worsted at the polls. His Abandonment
OF American soil had been generally de-
precated by the American public and
political opinion as gratuitous lapse
from precedent which heretofore had
kept American Presidents home.
In four weeks he has established q
reputation on the firmest foundation OF
respect, confidence and good will. His
vtterances during his presentations are
noted TO have been imbued from Man
chester TO Rome by craftsmanship
that sometimes was bold but always
tactful. His dealings with represer "a
tives Of the Allies at Paris have beer
equally tactsul and useful. He has con.
founded those political critics in thu
United States who had as loudly adver-
tised their fears that the pratical ad
vantages of his European venture would
De nil, or worse than nil.
II Is agreed OIL all hands that he has
! UNNECESSARILY increased not only his
personal influence but the standing Of
his country in the councils OF civiliza.
ton He has at the various conferences
which he has already attended convinced
his colleagues that the United States
has as Its chief delegate statesman
consp!cuously endowed with power for
keen but sympathetic analysis with
human understanding and impartial
Judgment.
Critics Are C0nfounded.
There has been on the part or the
President no rign OF that Utopfanism, OF
that old doctrine OF the liberal type
wherewith transatlantic political, con.
troversialists are so fond OF saddlins
him. still less has there been any sigr
that he desires to dictate, which we were
told by the same people underlay hi.
fourteen points. or Of that antipathy to
Great Britain which was similarly read
into his declaration on the freedom o.
the seas.
Concerning intricate European prob
lens, the lead that the President has
given 10 his delegation has been that
OF painstaking inquiry and consisten,
effort TO apprsise the result according
TO the rules OF impartial equity and rae
ial Standardization.
Upon Anglo American relations the
! effect OF the Presidents presence "a
most marked. When all is said, the
United States came TO the peace con-
ference more n stranger in a political
sense than our other allies With our
other allies we had for four years been
drawn together in an intimacy such AS
association in face OF imminent and
deadly peril can alone produce The
United States. despite the brillian,
measure OF economic and military coon
Grafton, came TO the conference more or
less as a political dark horse
Great Help to AiIie,.
The skeleton Of our war partnership
needed flesh and blood Of human and
poit ical tint. With that flesh and blood
the President has in the last month done
much to clothe it. He has shown be-
yonh peradventrre that the American pol
icy is inspired by the same ideals tina,
brought US and the Allies through the
ordeal o. the war.
Mr. Wilson, OF course. is not supreme
in Washington when IL comes 10 the
conclusion of international affairs 4
two-thirds vote OF the Senate is re.
quired to ratify them. II may also be
some time. too. before the conference
produces anything to raufy. but one
thing can be said with certainty. No
amount OF long distance diplomacy
could have done so much to bridge the
Atlantic as Mr.. Wilson'S presence ir
Europe for month while so far as a
good Anglo American working under,
standing is concerned. especially In
economic matters, his guidance and that
nf cil +1nt ~