El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-13

D TRUNK line rallrOaQS Wl1cn serve Eu-
rope. On the mere newspaper side the
facilities Of telegraph and Of eommu-
nicauoa vastly surpass anything &C.
neya has or conceivably would have.
material arguments only less impress
sive than sentimental sustained the
Belgian contention
Wilson Is Determined.
But president Wilson went to Paris
I resolved that the league OF nations
headquarters should be at Geneva and
IN no single discussion was he so to-
I tally unwilling to listen to arguments
or appeal A majority Of the rep
resentatives in the conference always
favored Brussels. No objection what
ever came from any Quarter. and on
the part Of the French in particular
there was an enthusiastic support Of
the claim Of Belgium. but Mr. Wilson
at all times and under all circum-
stances resolutely and unhesiratingly
insisted upon Geneva What his rea-
sons were the public do not know.
II was cOn5ectured that he felt that
it would be unwise to establish the
league OF nations in any country
which had been a belligerent during
the war. 1t is probable that ne be-
heved that the Germans would be
more willing 10 90 70 a neutral than
to an enemy nation. that they would
Re more kindly received in Switzer-
land than in Belgium, and that neu-
tral atmosphere would be more ad-
vantageous for the league itself
In thus opposing Belgium. how
ever, Mr. Wilson once more affronted
a friendly nation in the pursuit Of an
abstract ideal He hfd lost the SUD-
port OF the French public because he
had refused steadily to visit the dew
astated regions Of northern France,
because OF his belief that he should
avoid even seeming TO be influenced
in the conference by any circum-
stances appealing TO emotion rather
than passion France welcomed Mr..
Wilson as a friend, a champion. and
asked him TO go and see her wounds
that he might know what she had
suffered in making up his mind what
recompense should be hers. Mr.. VIII
son took the ground that in the peace
conference he was to play the part,
not OF friend and an ally, but that
OF judge The result was the swift
and complete loss OF French sympathy
and French support.
Belgians Appeal to Wilson.
The Belgians appealed 10 Mr.. VIII
son, whose advice would be decisive, I
20 come 20 Belgium and see what the Z
country had suffered But Mr. Wilson Z
refused TO 90 10 Belgium in advance {
OF the completion Of the treaty, and I
Interpreted his mission again as that !
OF the world peacemazer rather than I
that OF the ally. He believed that I
Geneva was more satisfactory as the 4
place Of residence Of his league Of ma
lions. and he was dear 10 any Belgian 1
appeal based on friendship. common
participation in the war, or senti- 4
ment.
The circumstance under which
the decision WAS made 10 10 TO
Geneva were such that the deci-
sion itself was Enthusiastically
triumph for Mr.. Wilson In the
conference. achieved only by the
exercise OF every bit Of influence
he possessed Actually he forced
reluctant OF a frankly hostile
conference. clear majority Of
which favored the BelEfans, to &C
eept his VIII As a result, not
only was Belgian affection and
gratitude for the United states
cooled, but Belgium very nearly
left the peace conference. as lIr.
Wilson's Paris spokesman, Ray
Stannurd Baker, has recently told
U.s. 1t moment when the Italians
had gone home, the Japanese were
threatening TO go. and the Ruma-
mans were On the eve OF depart
ure.
The loss Of the friendship of the
Belgian people. like the loss Of the
OF the Italians. has been
erect consequence Of Mr.. Wilson's
Interpretation OF his mission at Paris.
1e opposed the French in the matter
Y the Rhine barrier and circum-
erloec their part OF the Saar basin.
Iler having refused 10 visit their
ulned regions His appeal to the
Italian people over the heads OF their
government in the matter Of Fiume
lienated the vast mass Of Italians.
opposition 10 the Rumanians. the
Ireeks. as well as to Belgium. de-
rived America OF the liking of these
mall countries as we'll In the case
I Italy no fair minded man can oues-
ion the presidents correctness Of
lew. In the case Of France it is less
nipple to pass judgment. but in the
ase Of Belgium IL is difficult 10 un-
erstand the presidents course. which
lade enemies out Of grateful friends.
ucceeded only by the use OF force in
oercinE majority into a decision
gainst their Judgment or their will. /
nd in The end reached a decision in
avor OF an unsuitable place OF resi-
ence
II IS 70 be hoped that the American
Import viii now 20 to the BeIEian
lain, repairing the mistake made in
aris, and that the effect Of this
lange In position will remove the
itterness created by that earlier
CopyriEht. 1873, Mcclure
ewspaper Syndicate
says German Chancellor
4 q l. ~