The New York herald., 1921-10-23

Robert Lansing. Houghton Mifflin
Co.
President Wilson's Secretary OF
State adds IN this w volume a series
Of pen portraits a.ad personal estimates
TO the narrative of events contained
in his earlier book. THE Peace Nego-
tiauons." Besides Wilson and the war
Prcmiers Of France. England and Italy
he writes of Venizelos, Emir Feisul,
Botha and Paderewsh.
Tho severest judgment In the book
IN that passed upon the Prime Min
lister Of Great Britain. Mr.. Lansing
charges him with one Of the most un-
fsvorably criticised features OF the
conference. Here is part Of that in
dictment:
II have stated that Mr.. Lloyd George.
IN my opinion. was principally RESPONSE
bic for the secrecy of the proceedings OF
tho councils. know that he showed the
greatest perturbation over publicity and
most strenuously demanded that the dis
cursions and settlements should be held
strictly secret. Though the meetings OF
the Council OF Ten were considered con-
fidential, only an official corapsurique
being given out after meeting. there
frequently appeared I'm the Partisan press
reports OF the proceedings which were
no doubt embarrassing to the British
Government. since they became the sub
1ect of Interpolation and discussion in
Parliament.
~As nearly all the cases of these un-
unauthorized reports seemed to be in a
measure helpful to the French Cabinet
In the Chamber Of Deputies 1t was pre-
sumed. not without reason. that the in
formation came from the official group
who, independently OF the Minister Of
Foreign Affairs. control IN large measure
the acts of the Foreign Office in Paris.
and who were In constant touch with the
proceedings OF the Peace Conference.
These published statements greatly
annoyed Mr.. Lloyd George and caused
him to use some very plain and vigorous
language about the way news leaked
out He implied rather. broadly thai
since the French Government maintained
complete control Of the press througf
it censorship the publication OF thil
ncwy was for political purposes and as
serted that he, for one, would not stanc
't .2latgt ti,Hspgs
Fear Of Publicity, Shown.
tho climax Of this disiike--or possi-
bly, I should say this fear-of publicity
on the part Of the British statesman
can1e AZ meeting of the Council of Ter
held at the Presidents house. about the
middle Of April. which. according to the
notice. was summoned to consider the
publicity to be given TO the. terms OF
peace before the treaty was delivered
10 the Germans, but which was In fact
summoned to devise means to prevent
the terms from becoming public The
meeting was ono OF the most extraor-
dinary ever held In connection with q
great international congress-. most ex-
traordinary as to subject, discussion and
result
II DO not feel that I can give q de-
tailed account OF what occurred a. this
meeting. but II may be said that Mr.
Lloyd George held the opinion--lan opin-
ion which he freely expressed outside the
council-that In order to- keep secret
the terms OF the treaty as long a
possible the delegates Of tho lesser CO
belligerent states, who had been ex.
cluded from all participation In the draft
ing OF the document. ought not even &c
see the full text before the Germans saw
Il, and that all delegates. friends and
foes alike. should simply be directed tc
Ar4gn here This opinion--which wal
evidently based on the assumed right o.
the Great Powers to dictate to the con
ference-was apparently made with tn,
IDEA that II would be too late to propos,
changes In the treaty after the term.
had been imposed on the Germans, and
that the terms could not become the sub
Sect of political attack or public criti.
cism At home while the Germans were
considering them and formulating objec.
tione to them. 81
Tho result Of the meeting was a de.
cree or order by the Council OF -Four
that a summary and not the text of the
err< - aAA - LII 11In
gates on the afternoon preceding the
delivery OF the document ITO the Ger
man representatives. and thdt no dele.
gate should be permitted to debate the
terms unless II was in n perfunctory
manner. and In no event to attempt &c
amend them"
Mr.. Wilson does not escape criticism
but II Is evident that the author retains
certain admiration for his former
chief. He refers again and again to his
dignity and even temper, paying him this
tribute:
1T Is my belief that President VIII
sons influence had much 10 do with pre-
serving peace In the Council of Four
Placid and dlgnined In manner, he Inn
pressed upon others a disposition to be
calm In expression and TO avoid giving
way 20 emotional impulses In this
particular his influence was undoubtedly
superior 70 that OF any other man In
the councils or the conference, and con.
tributed greatly to the amlcable settle
mont OF many vexatious disputes which
caused personal irritation and which
but for his considerate and temperate at.
titude. might have ripened into personal
Quarrels."
Sees Sign of weakness.
But Mr.. Lansing cannot refrain from
noting what he counted a Sign OF weak
ness. even In the Presidents manner Of
speech:
'The one thing that TO my minc
nerrcd the Presidents diction was {
sort OF little chuckie or half chuckl,
which frequently interrupted his nov
OF language I never observed Till
nnannerism prior 10 the first meeting o
tho heads OF States and foreign Minis
tors except on one or two occasions. ]
seemed 10 be an involuntary act cause,
by nervousness or emba rrassment.
sounded almost apologetic Probabi,
those who had not come In frequen
contact with the President prior 10 tn
peace conference never noticed u. T.
those long acquainted with him
seemed 20 indicate a loss Of some OF tn
:. - "a a A. a.