Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-18
HOOVER TREATY FOE
OLDlETTER REVEALS
Saws He Has Modified Views Since
April, 1919; Doomed in
IL States.

Washington. Ma, ch lS.-A ve.y p.o-
no,,nced sensation was c,eated in Wash
;nrton Yesterday by the publication of the
teSt of a letter written by Herbert Hoover
10 President Wilson on April IL, 1919,
in which he warned Mr.. Wilson that
America must not commit the blunder
of forming an armed alliance with Europe
or of having representation upon the
various international commissions created
BY the Peace Conference.
The authenticity of this communica-
ton was admitted by Mr.. Hoover later
in the day, but he disclaimed in telegram
sent to the White House responsibility
for it's publication. He said he had modi-
fed his view uDon the question of Ameri-
can DarticlDation IN European affairs to
the extent that be recognized the import
ance of having an American representative
on the Reparations Commission.
This disclaimer did not silence those
who feel the greatest interest in the views
of Mr.. Hoover. An acrimonious debate
was precipitated in the Senate by this
communication. Republican irreconcH-
ables and drastic reservationists alike
looked upon the Hoover warn ing as
substantial vindication of their hostility
to the peace treaty.
Nor have Washingtonians generally
quite fathomed the circumstances of the
publication of this interesting document.
1t was printed in the Philadelphia Public
Ledger this morning, but also was printed
simultaneously in the Washington Herald,
a newspaper of which Mr. Hoover is part
owner. In his statement. issued in New
York and later telegraphed to the White
House. Mr. Hoover said that the publlca-
ton was a surprise to him and that he has
satisfied himself, conclusively that no
member of his personal staff was re-
sponsible for its being gwen to the public.
The conviction is held generally inWash-
ington that some one of MIR. Hoover's
Republican friends made the letter public
for the purpose of giving Mr.. Hoover
more standing as the possible candidate
cf the Republican party for the Presidency
Such letter as this is calculated, of
course, tc create bitter feeling on the part
of old-line Democrats against the former
Food Administrator and further is calcu-
lated TO emphasize Mr.. Hoover's qualiii-
cation for the Republican nomination.
Before issuing his statement, MIR. Hoo
yer talked with the White House by tele-
phone and explained that he felt very
much embarrassed by the incident. He
stated that he would issue a statement
md would forward a copy OF 1t 20 the
President.
The Hcover's letter was IN the nature of
a protest to the President against Ameri-
can membership on the various commits
sions created by the Peace Conference.
He took the position that such member
ship would involve the United States IN
European affairs and would compel this
country to employ its armed forces and
MS resources generally TO do Europe's
policing, which, he held, the American
people generally would not stand for.
New York, March lS.-Herbert Hoover
has issued a statement In which he said
he had modified his opinion expressed IN /
3 letter to President Wilson last Apri /
that the United States should not bel !
on various boards provided /
TO enforce peace IN Europe. He now
favors this country having representative
on the Preparations Commission IN order
that American interests may be protected.
He protests against the publication of his
letter to President Wilson on the ground
that it was not issued from the White
House and he had not consented to Its