The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-28

BY FRANK SiMoNDS
Every circumstance of the presi- |
dents foreign mission has in recent /
months been subject to so much con-
troversial comment that it is difficult
in the extreme to discuss this visit
without seeming to join in the con-
troversy Yet it is patent that there
was fact, that there were many facts
about the stay of Mr.. Wilson In the
French capital, which can be describ-
ed as they existed without reference
to the domestic political differences
at home. just as Interpretations
exist at home which can be explained
away without dealing with the main
issues of Partisan dispute.
For example, when / landed In New
York, the newspapers were filled with
the terms of the preliminaries OF
peace which had several weeks before
been served upon the Germans, and
the Republican half of the senate was
criticising an apparently unsuccessful
effort of the president to withhold
these terms from it and from the
American public. But the fact was
that Mr.. Wilson had tried frequently
and earnestly to have these terms
published. He had urged such publica-
ton from the very hour when they
had been served upon the Germans,
believing and declaring that the peo-
pie of the world were entitled to
know what the Germans knew as
matter of right.
Clemenceau had readily consented
to the publication, remarking as an
experienced journalist, that it was
useless to try to suppress them and
foolish to attempt to do something at
once unpopular and impossible Or
lando had made no objection and had
little concern, since Italy was not at
fected by the settlement with Ger
many But Lloyd George had toutly
opposed the publication. Once, when
the British Premier had left Paris for
visit to the north, the three other
members of the Big Four had reached
an agreement to publish the terms,
but on his return Lloyd George over
bore all three.
What Georges objections to public
ity were, must be conjectured but it
is a fact that he was at all times and
in all circumstances opposed to pub
licity. Certainly Mr.. Wilson might
have given the terms out, despite
Georges objection, but to do this
would have been to create bad feeling
and the president in this instance as
in so many others yielded to a col
league.
Criticism is BaseIess.
But there is a much larger field of
criticism of the present, which rests
upon Misrepresentation. There seems
to be widespread belief in this coun-
try that the president by his incessant
urgings of the League of Nations &C
tually delayed the progress of settle
ment of terms upon the material prob
lens. This is totally inexact
When Mr. Wilson reached Europe
in December, he did not find France
and Britain with programs arranged
or with policies agreed upon On the
contrary neither country had framed
program, jointly or separately. Brit
ain. under Lloyd Georges impulsion,
had gone through the throes OF an
election, which had consumed all the
energies and attention of its states
men. France was wrestling with the
grim problems of reorganization
temporary. incipient reorganization
after four years and half of inva-
sion and devastation.
More than this, the president did
not bring his League of Nations plan
to Europe and force it upon a reluc-
tant or hostile conference Before he
had even reached Europe Great Brit
ain had decided to champion this
great experiment and many British
ministers had taken their turn at de
vising actual machinery, for the pres
ident had not gone beyond the vagu
est conception of a world league Il
the French were frankly incredulouE
and openly critical. they were on the
other hand totally unready with {
m for tho pr
their own plans were not disarrangee
by Mr.. Wilson's purposes. At all time!
and under all circumstances tn,
League of Nations part of the bust
ness of the Peace conference was il
more advanced shape than the balanc,
nor was the attention of the confer
ence diverted from actual peace max
ing by this detail.
When the president reached Europ
he received one of the most astonist
ing welcomes ever given to any put
lie man in history. He was halle
with enthusiasm by millions who say
in him the promise of a new age, with
out any clear notions in their ow
minds as to what this new and golde
age was to be, but with a plain an
poignant appreciation of what tn
world they lived in. had been in re
cent years. OF q moment pres
dent was the most popular man
Europe. On the whole he lost nearl
if not all of this popularity in th
following months. but not all of tn
responsibility was his. although In til
case of France. it was largely pc
sonal. And the decline in popularit
of Lloyd George and Clemenceau wa
at least proprotionate.
Expected Miracle
The fact that the millions who we
coined the president with an unto
gettable enthusiasm. expected a mi
acle. They did not, as many now a
que. look for a peace of conciliatio
with Germany which should be obtai
ed by letting Germany off lightly an
putting on their own shoulders tt
burden of the costs of the war an
German depredations. On the CO.
trary. they hated Germany with ju!
as intense a hatred as ever and the
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