Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-01-07
MrEREsTtAs INCIDENTS OF THE PARIS
PEACE CONFERENCE.


PEACE CONFERENCE.
The dramatic incidents Of the
Versailles Peace Conference will in
terest students OF history for gen
erations to come. DR.. Isaiah Bow
man. chief territorial adviser Of
the American Peace Commission.
revealed some of these incidents
for the first time in the course of
his address in the Academy Of
Music at Philadelphia, Pa, Thurs
day night, Dec. "a, when his topic
was "Constantinople and tho Bal
tic States" DIR. Bowman is 4 highly
cultured man. He is pronounced
Republican. He was on the inside
at the Peace Conference. He said
there were many times when in
tcrnational difficulties seemed al
most insurmountable, but only once
YVES real crisis reached. That,
he said, was when NJ Clcmcpceau
called President Wilson a pro-
German and walked out of the
conference in Il huff.
"Tigcr'S' wrath. DR.. Bowman told
the large and deeply interested audi
cnce, when ne refused TO agree to
tn French demand that the left
bank OF the Rhine be ccdcd to
France and when he declared that
he would not be Il party to grant
ing the Saar basin to the French re-
public if that would result in 300,-
600 Germans having to become
Frenchmen.
The President was determined
that no provision Of the peace
treaty should contain cause of
future war.
THAT same afternoon" DR.. Bow
man continued. 1--WE (the members
Of the American Peace Commission)
received a message to come at once
to the Presidents house. He greet
ed us with cordiality (for those
who say he is cold" don't know
the PresidenD and said: Gentlemen
I am in trouble, and I have sent for
you to help me out. The French
want the left bank Of the Rhine and
also the Saar basin. I have told
NJ. Clemenceau / will not agree to
it. I do not know whether I shall
see NJ. Clemenceau tomorrow; i
do not know whether I ever shall
see him again-in fact l do not
know whether the Peace Confer
ence will continue. NJ. Clemenceau
has called ME q pro-German and
has left the room. ..I =.
Now, I want you gentlemen to
assist me. want YOU to find q So
luton for those veXing problems,
which, will be lust and fair to the
Germans and still please NJ, Glenn
enceau. which is to say France
"And that, solution was found.
1t was one finally accepted"
DR.. Bowman paid a glowing
tribute to President Wilson.
II am a Republican and diamct-
rically opposed TO most Of Mr.. Will,
sons political ideas and ideals" he
said. 81 have never held ali office
under him and never hope to. /
owe him nothing and have no ak to
grind. But | want to state most
emDhatically as one who attended
most Of the sessions of the Peace
Conference, that President Wilson
by all odds stood head and should
crs above any Of the other mon who
Graccd the Conference with their
famous presence"
That statement was greeted with
LENGTHY and enthusiastic aVplauSc.
DR.. Bowman also said that il
WIS not true that The President
was avcrSc to having advice given
him. On the contrary. he declared
he asked for it. Aboard thr George
Washington on The way to France,
the President, The speaker said.
ono dav called fourteen of the cy-
Dcrts of the American Commission
INTO the council room,
'He told us some things about
the League Of Nations" DR.. Bow
man added, "and then uttered a
few words which / think are
worthy Of being preserved rs o
classic. He said: Gentlemen, |
rely upon YOU and upon your prep
arations. Please tell me in every
case what is right and l will fight
for it-3ive me Il guaranteed posi-
ton The party consisted of seven
Republicans, five Democrats and
two independents"
DR.. Bowman said Mr.. LLOYD
George was "the bad boy" of the
conference and was Frequently dis
posed to be autocralic and some
times ill-tcmpcrcd.