Evening star., 1921-11-07
CHAPTER XXI.
SECRETS OF SECRECY.


Fault has also been found with the four
heads of governments who have been
accused of assuming a task which
was not theirs. and having thus de-
layed the settlement. THE armistice
was signed November H." say these
critics, land the conference did not
begin until January IL. two months
later. If delegates had been chosen
who were neither heads of states nor
prime ministers. if it had not been
necessary to wait first for Mr.. Wilson.
who was obliged to prepare for his
departure, and then for Mr.. Lloyd
George, who was held up by his cleo
tions, two months would nave been
gained" Does any one really believe
that the private conversations OF the
month of December were not of inn
portance? Does any one really believe
that without them certain of the
French claims which were opposed by
the British delegation would have
found that moral support in American
quarters which insured their ultimate
success? But, above all, does any one
really believe that it would have been
possible to do the work that had to
be done except by those who had full
responsibility and sovereign power of
distinguished of officials have been equal
to it? This question can be answered
by experience. Half of the commits
sions when they really got to the
heart of the problems they We're
asked to solve hesitated to make de-
cisions of principle which it was per-
fectly evident could only be taken by
the heads of governments.
"Legend'' Is Attacked.
IN Wi m
mary discussions in December, 1918,
it is only right to destroy a legend
which has found almost as many be-
levers as that of peace was possible
in 1917" and which is quite as untrue.
i refer to the so-called deal, said to
have been made in London. between
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Lloyd George.
the former giving up freedom of the
seas" in exchange for British support
of the league of nations. 1t is
fabrication. pure and simple. ''Ro-
mancing," as NJ. Clemenceau said.
There was not in London in Decem-
ber, 1918. any deal or negotiation on
the subject of the freedom of the
seas" MIR. Wilson held that with
the league of nations established
there would be no more neutrals and
that the problem of neutrality dis
cussed for centuries in connection
with the freedom of the seas no
longer arose and could not arise. The
President of the United States. more
over, made a public statement on
this subject in the spring of 1919.
Besides, agreement was complete be-
tween the three heads of the govern
ments of the United States. of France
and of Great Britain on the subject
of the decisive services rendered by
the naval power of Great Britain
Nj. Clemenceau said so plainly or
September 26. 1919, in the chamber
of deputies, in the following words
Mr.. Lloyd George said to me- Do
you admit that without the British
fleet you could not have continued
the war" And 1 answered.: Yes
you disposed to prevent us in case
of war doing the same thing again.
And / answered.: No Well, now ]
repeated this conversation to Presi-
dent Wilson. 1t did not in the least
disturb him. President Wilson an
you which could displease or en-
barrass either of you.'" Already then
Mr.. Wilson was convinced that the
league of nations by itself sutficed
to solve the problem. Mr.. House, in
a letter of October, 1920. was 50 kind
whatever took place on this subject
in London at the end of 1918.
SupergOvernment Needed. y
Theorists may deplore the super
government" set up in Paris in 1919
to their hearts content. 1t was a
necessity. Such was the work of the
four. France may we'll be proud of
the part she played. ever firm and
friendly. No one has ever stated
that the methods adopted wereSall
perfect. But that they We're ade-
Quate to a tremendous task is proved
by the results. 1t was cheap and
easy to caricature this immense un-
dertaking to suit ones own purpose.
The truth stands by itself. 1 am try
ing to tell 1t here.
I have perhaps waited too long to
tell it. 1t would have been better to
have spoken earlier. Another of the
faults found with the conference in
Paris was that it surroundede itself
with mystery. 1 am inclined to the
belief that, in this respect. mistake
was really made. 1 hold that the
conference was weakened by it's
aIocfness. Here again feel impelled,
even though I might prefer other
wise, to relate exactly how this came
about.
The representatives of the powers.
great and small, arrived in Paris in
SPECIAL NOTICES.