The Washington herald., 1919-01-14
ATTACK ON WILSON
AND LEAGUE PLANS
STARTED BY FRENCH
CONTINUED PROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
voted on many questions and her real
purposes never be accomplished.
1t becomes increasingly apparent
that unless the American Commits
sion frankly and publicly states Its
purposes the success of the League
of Nations plan and all other Amer
lean ideals in connection with world
peace will be seriously endangered.
Secretary of State Lansing admit
ted today that the open covenant
idea Is not being carried out
Mr.. Lansing said secrecy was nec-
esary till the allies plans are known.
But the European mind regards tho
American abandonment of the claim
that open covenants will be entered
into openly as indicating a sudden
and sinister shift of purpose on the
part OF America.
AntI-wilson Propaganda
Reactionary elements in Paris car
ry on a quiet propaganda, verbally,
against President Wilson, trying to
discredit him and the league of ma
tions plan. They are using hostile
expressions uttered in the United
States Senate to support their con-
tentions that Mr.. Wilson does not
represent American opinion
1t is improbable that this propa-
ganda will accomplish substantial re-
suits because the body of opinion in
Great Britain, France and Italy favors
an ending of all war. welcoming any
concrete means toward accomplish
ing this.
The principles of league of nations
probably will be established even be-
fore the peace terms are actually
written or agreed upon, since the
principles Of the settlement are great
ly affected by conditions which must
necessarily obtain under the proposed
league.
1t is impossible first to make a peace
treaty which violates the principles of
justice and humanity and then to at
tempt to nail it down with a league
of nations. I feel very sure that the
controlling authorities of Great Brit
ain and the United States entertain
similar ideas regarding the necessity
OF establishing a league first.
Puzzled About Indemnities.
Perplexing problems arise as to how
Germany and Austria WILL be able to
meet the vast amount of indemnities
proposed in the ACCOUNTS prepared
against them by the invaded nations
Illustrative of the surreptitious cam
paign against President Wilson on the
part of certain elements in Paris to
which United States Senator Owen re-
fers in his dispatch to Universal Serv-
ice are several insiduous digs in this
WaaE'a 1GGl1a "a ri a D.
principal organ OF political gossip.
The paper first quotes che late Col.
Roosevelt as saying that Wilson
never travelled enough" and that
travels develop youth, and from
every viewpoine Wilson is marvellous
ly young"
Then it discusses the personnel of
the American peace commission. 1t
says nothing against Secretary of
State Lansing. but after characterizing
Col Edward NJ. House as 1.-The Presi-
dents personal friend" lie Cri con-
tinues:
Two other designations published
cause considerable surprise. That OF
Gen. Tasker Won Bliss" is not yet
explained.
Fnther-in-law of German.
Henry Whites appointment is Jus
titled by saying that he represents the
Republican element, but the Repub-
hcans emphasize that Mr.. White, a
former Ambassador, never participat-
ed in active politics, and some are
surprised that the only Republican
judged worthy to represent the United
Staees should be the father-in-law
of a German officer"
II is stated in American circles tina,
this insinuation is most unjust, since
Mr.. Whites daughter was married
here in Paris while her father was
Ambassador to France. long before
the war. when the United States ana
Germany were friedly.
The classification of Gen. Bliss
name, giving it a Teutonic aspect by
the prefix Of won Is considered
hardly less deplorable.
While neither of the above dele
gates deigns to answer such attacks,
their publication causes surprise in
American circles, where more re-
straint is being practiced concerning
French dOmestfc affairs