The New York herald., 1921-05-15

Mr.. Lamont credits Wilson with being
most considerate of the opinions of his
adjutors but adds:
Mr., Wilson did not have well organ
lied secretarial staff. He did far too much
work himself He was the hardest
worked man at the conference-it was his
inability not his refusal to use men. to
know how to delegate work on a large
scale"
Mr. Lamont then makes this strong state
ment:
I'VE all felt that the failure of the United
States to have representation on the com
mission due to not having ratified the
treaty. This omission has, in my
opinion, been in considerable measure re-
sponsible for the lamentable delay in fixing
the indemnity and has been largely
responsible for the continued economic un-
settlement of Europe"
This grave assertion takes no account OF
what was undoubtedly an alternative course
possible for Mr. Wilson-continuing Mr..
Polk some other personal representative
in Europe to confer with the Supreme Coun-
ell, which alone has been dealing with Ger
many over reparations. He needed
thority through the treaty, since he had al
ready assumed equal authority and greater.
Mr.. Lamont is emphatic in declaring that
from start to finish Mr., Wilson and his ad-
visers opposed vigorously any cancellation
OF the Allied debt to America.
Mr.. MeZes informs us that David Hunter
Miller and Major James Brown Scott were
the missions two experts on international
law" and without questioning the wisdom
cf such appointments since they occupied
posts which might have been filled by Taft
and Root in a mission differently constituted
their testimony is important. Rather curl
ously- Miller thinks datU to germany
demanded League of Nations, saying. 1T
Of ,Cfv
establishment of a league for her own pro
lection, carrying out a part of the bargain
with Germany-she would justly have
garded its absence a gross breach
of faith" new view this Mr.. Miller
makes. however, an important admission. in
these words:
$50 far as the Lodge reservations made
changes in the league, they were wholly
Of a minor character. they left the structure
intact and they would have interfered with
it's workings not at all"
He also denies that the treaty delayed
by the work of formulating the League of
Nations, since Mr. Wilson and his commit
tee sat up o. nights working on the cove
nant. Had they instead employed their eve
nings on the treaty it would obviously have
been ready much earlier
Mr.. Miller describes a scene. after mid
night. when in discussing the French claims.
Mr.. Wilson over his objectors by
speech Of wtching eloquence which left the
secretaries gasping with admiration. their
pencils in their hands, their duties forgotten,
and hardly word taken down.
Alas that the bewitched stenographers
failed 70 preserve such a masterpiece.
Prof. Douglas Wilson Johnson gives an
extremely able resume of the Fiume ques-
ton, but omits entirely the sensational epi-
sode Of Mr.. Wilson's appeal to the Italian
people over the heads of their delegates, who
were later sustained by an Overwhelming
vote. And surely this is a convincing exam
pie Of the futility of Americas s interference
ia Europe. when after many months of
disruption which created deep enmities and
prevented Italy from getting credits. sup
plies and food the question settled as it
should have been in the beginning by mu-
tual agreement between Italy and Czecho-
Slovakia-and not on Wilson lines. but close
~ approXimating those originally claimed by
Orlando Marconi told the writer that Mr.
Wilson had influenced bankers against maxi
ing large loan TO Italy, which had prac-
tically been agreed upon negotiated in Paris
by Marcon and Schanzer, Italian Minister of
Finance We find confirmation in Nitti's
speech in Rome. July 81 1919:
American credits fall due ON the 3lst of
August and tho American Treasury has no
obligation Of prepayment. | must add. and
il Is as we'll that the country should know
this That the United States Government CON
sidcrs that private credits cannot be granted
% Italy gntil tho political situation has been
cleared up
Prof Bowman IN his chapter on Constan-
linople and the Balkans relates that after
MI Wilson left Paris he was commissioned
hy Mr. Folk to ascertain Clemenccau's views
on Fiume. Tardieu brought Clemenceau's
answer The Americans are charming, but
they arc far away; when sou have gone the
Italians rcmain-aud as our neighbors."
Bowman says: There was a time when
the conference might have been broken IN
Mr. Wilson called three of us one day to
his house lie said. 'Gcntemcn, | am in
trouble. The French want the left
bank Of tho Rhine. told NJ Clcmcnceau
could not consent lie became very much
excited and demanded tho ownership Of the
aar basin. could not agree: Il would
mean giving 100000 Germans to France
do not know " shah sec Clcmcnccau again.
or II he viii return 10 the conference this
afternoon. do not know II the Peace CON
ference win continue. I want YOU 20 assist
me n working ont tho principles we are
standing for and 10 Justice 20 France"
Bowman then adds. "a solution was
found one that stands Ia the treaty to-day"
But hc fails to tell us that Clcmenceau
made concessions on both these points. and
agreed "a temporary occupation " the Rhine
only on Mr. Wilson's undertaking 10 pro-
tect France through the Anglo French
American treaty, promising aid 10 France I'm
case of German invasion. This Mr. Wilson
never pressed on tie Senate. and never ad-
yised them 81 tho facts untl they made lu-
luiry. Certainly 100000 Germans deserve
consideration, but MI Wilson did not owl