The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-03-25
ROBERT LANSING
REVEALS SECRETS
OF PEACE FARLEY


American Commission ON the League
OF Nations from its first meeting until
its report was printed, Mr., Lansing
says the oftic. force Of Colonel HunsC
knew more about the proceeding.
thar the three American Commission
ers who were not present Addi.
tiOnal difficulties were caused by
lack Of an American program, tn
FOurtee Point OF the President being
entirely insufficient for such pur-
pose. AIR. Lansing found the presi-
dent indisposcd To consider the sub
jrct Df having program. He asked
in American legal advisers to pre-
pare Il skeleton treaty but was
told emphatically by the president
that the later did not intend to have
lawyers draft the treaty of peace
LanSing's Idea
Mr.. Lansing's idea was to secure
adoption OF Il /, solution declaring the
purposes ard nature of the League OF
Nations, providing for later negotia-
Z ti0n of Il detailed plan. and i'm thti
mcantime 20 make peace at the ear
hest possible moment. This h.
thought could be done by April /,
|, 1918. Delay of peace for the pur-
pose of completing the League he
considered an unwarranted risk The
prosid mt, however. thought other
wise and Mr.. Lansing found it posi-
lie to infer that the president was
disposed to employ the world desire
Tor peace as Il means to compel other
governments to accept his plan for
a League
| Self-determination was Il phrase of
the president s that Mr.. Lansing con
Adered loaded with dynamite; bound
to cause impossible demands. and Ia
stir up trouble in many coun;rit <.
This principle, he says, was discredit-
ed when Germany was refused permits
sion to join with Austria, and it was
ignored in the presidents policy to-
ward Russia. That the proposed dc
ensive TT atty with France was bad
That i would certainly be rejected Nv
/ the American senate, and that it dis
credited Article y, which Mr.. Wilson
| considered vital to the treaty. was
The opinion OF Mr.. Lansing durn,a
the Peace Conference. He indicates
his be ief that Clemenceau insisted on
Inc defensive treaty as the price OF
support of the League.
/ Condemns Mandate
Secretary Lansing finds the man.
! dat system of conquered territories
IA selfish device benefiting material
f interests of the manda e-holdi;.e
/ powers under cover of apparent ~
trulsm. 1t was sought to take advan.
/ tage OF the unselfshness CT the Amer.
lean people to impose burdensGmt
mandates on the United States wink
giving profitable ones to Europeai
powers.
MI Lansing opposed the mandat,
system N talking with Colonel Uou.;,
Tut never knew whether his obiec
tons were conveyed to the president
In connection with other problems
his communica' ions sent directly Il
the president were never acknow:
edges, according TO Mr.. Lpnsing, Wi,
found Mr.. Wilson ntalerant of SUI.
gestions; irritated by opposition, an,
seemingly suspicious Of the sec, a
lary's views after November -. 1918
when Mr.. Lansing incurred his lis
pleasure by drging him not 10 20 &c
Paris personally.
Mr. Lensing discusses the trsti-
mony OF William G. Bull; before he
Senate Forei;n Relal!Ju5 committee
Mr.. Bullitt quoted Mr.. Lansing aa
saving that if the American reopl!
und rStood what he rrcaiy let them
F., IN for they would lefoat / Mr.. Bal
/ NIT entirely chane"I the mtanirg j,
what had been said To him in Paris.
Mr.. Lansing declares. The president
at this time was campaigning Tor the
League of Nations IN lie ives. and
Mr. Lansing telegra2I>I to MIN ct-
ierlng to explain the interview with
l'ullitt, bu', he saws. the presiIant
2eYer answered his telegram.
because OF the pressing need Of
peace Secretary Lansing. despite his
dl1ferences with Mr.. Wilson, cont IL
d to favor ratification of the Treaty
ana Covenant without reservations
This he did as long as there was
n Il