Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-08-06
.oL HOUSE REVEALS THE REAL
.AusE OF THE TREATY FAILURE
From the New York American, July
1a, 1920


cal evon years President Wilson's most
pal "A Intimate friend, and during six years
" on as his confidential messenger in deal
eIiru nc with foreign governments. They
'neJ E fved information of the Presilens 50
an entions oftener from Colonel Hocse
ham from his Secretary Of state.
oD@' M When President Wilson returned from
IS r' sr;s in June 1918, with the Peace
'e can -. and the League Covenant
Of as igoed he left Colonel House there us
Of s personal representative, although
'erli here had been breach between the
an a. resident ana the four other peace
." delegatea. Colonel House. Secretary
n. f ansing. General Bliss and ex Am
J. n assador White.
OILY \ All these chosen advisers had for
is| z cited the Presidents confidence hy
OH snturing to differ from him about
anda shantung, Russia and other phases
vi the Peace Treaty.
: & After the return to America Of the
"~ residents four collaborators in maxi
,.a the Peace Treaty. President VIII
NJ s5f fon refused to receive or TO talk with
" 5s by Of them the breach between them
= become too wide
I Now Colonel House is again in Eu
4 oe. this time in an unofficial capa-
~. and he has begun publicly to
on iscuss the mistakes of Presiden Will
~, son. In an authorized statement he
,diI avs:
Dsl "a suggestion was made in Paris
non bust after the Armstice to proceed at
N n once in the making of a preliminary
sun based upon broad general lines and
concerning four subjects-army. navy.
INSPIRATIONS and delineation of bounda
res The boundaries need not have
p, been exact but should have been so
tnA Drawn as to give Germany the assur-
al ance that her loss of territory would
side not be greater than indicated. Such
S'a & treaty could have been made by
lc1x ristmas of 1918, and would have been
only the usual but the obvious
7hing to do There was at that time
. icing Germany the entire allied army.
= &iitant and flushed with victory. and
4 ere would have been no delay or
4 Evasion of terms.
"A
Z upset that programme. He had de-
Z creed during his first visit to Europe, !
= sin December 1918, that the League Of
= HI Nations covenant MUST have the
: h right of way over any peace treaty.
. 4 He returned to the United States m
!. II February. 1919, to address the new
!. n congress. In his absence from Paris
y
: # pal powers agreed that TO hasten the
: H paeifcation of Europe, the preliminary
!. Eterms of peace must be settled first.
!. MtThe plan on which the delegates of all 4
!. #nations in the Conference agreed in the 4
M'absence of President Wilson was, in
: p the words of Colonel House. that
: "a careful survey should be made of
. Germany's resources and ability to
. pay and a sum then assessed which the
bankers of the world might be willing
to underwrite If this view had pre- {
vailed. the French and Belgians could
have received their allotment in cash
(which would have been of untold bene-
Eft to their respective Countries
But President Wilson, as soon as he
NFetuned to Paris again upset this
Mblan. He was determined that the
sIeague Covenant should be settled
Eznrst and Lloyd George and Clemen-
Eceau, finding any progress Impossible
without him finally consented.
81 The Wilson programme greatly pro-
onged the agony of all Europe. The
Edelay was injurious to all the Allies.
11As it has worked out it has been to
he advantage of Germany, which after
year has not paid one penny of the {
Mindemnity Colonel House now adds;
'It is doubtful whether Germany G
II has it in mind to pay anything at pre- G
&sent. and it may be that she contem
plates letting the future care for it.
self"
@ Colonel House sees a hideons mess {.
M In the war debts owed by European
Powers, one to another. France thinks
@ hat she should be relieved entirely Of
M her Jelt to Fnsland because she b.re
M five sever-hs c5 the loss in war st
directod not mere against her y m r
against England. is
M England is willing to cancel tho deo. tt
of France to her provided the United tt
E States win cancel Great Britain pi
greater debt to America. Andre Tar &c
$dieu the French High Commissioner m
understood from the American peace Al
M delegation that this would be done. pr