New-York tribune., 1921-03-28
A Footnote

In the second chapter Of his book
AR. Lansing incidentally throws
some light on another obscured
phase of President Wilson's policy
during the World War period. This
was the phase in which he was
working for @peace without victory"
Mr.. Lansing notes that the Presi-
dents idea Of going to the peace
conference dated back to the winter
Of 1916. He says:
II knew that in December, 1916, when
it will be remembered Mr. Wilson
was endeavoring to induce the bellig-
ercnts to state their objects in the
war and to enter into conference
looking toward peace, he had an idea
that he might, as a friend Of both
parties, preside over such a confer
ence and exert his personal infu-
cncc to bring the belligerents into
agreement. A personal service of
this sort undoubtedly appealed to-
the Presidents humanitarian in
stinct and to his earnest desire to
end the war, while the novelty of
the position in which he would be
placed would not have been displeas-
ing to one who in his public career
seemed to find satisfaction in de-
parting from the established paths
marked out by custom and usage"
A little further on he describes
the President as "the impartial
friend of both parties" and> declares
that his mediation policy of 1867
was actuated by "a spirit of mutual
friendliness, which was real and not
assumed"
These frank admissions corrobo-
rate what Count Won Bernstorff
wrote in The Five Years War
about the Presidents keenness to
start peace negotiations in which he
should act as mediator and arbi-
TRAITOR The, Berlin government en-
couraged him in this idea. But
it had no intention of letting him
interfere in the territorial SETTLE
ments, and suggested two confer
unees-one between the two groups
OF belligerents to make peace terms,
and second, participated in by the
United States with Mr.. Wilson as
presiding officer, to lay plans for
future world peace. The "peace-
without-victory" speech of January
22, 1917, Bernstorff shows, was the
last move in the Presidents effort
to force mediation after the Allies
had rejected the Kaiser's direct offer
to negotiate made the month before.
Bernstorff emphasizes again and
again Mr.. Wilson's anxiety to inter-
vene and insists on the impartiality
Of his attitude. He accuses Beth
mann-Hollweg of having made a
fatal blundcr in not accepting the
Presidents services unconditionallv.
He says:
When the French and ENGLISH
press derided the President in No.
vember, 1916, after the first cables
had announced the election of Mr.
hughes, Mr.. Wilson was deeply
q. mortified. A further Improvement in
ms attitude toward us followed
when we showed that we were favor
apiy disposed to his mediation fo,
peace. The fact that Germany reliet
on him stimulated his self-esteem te
sucn an extent that he became, to 6
certain degree, Interested in bringing
about peace that would be salts.
factory to Germany"
Bernstorf was convinced that Ger.
many could have obtained a suitable
peace in 1917 by working intelli.
gently through Mr.. Wilson.
What becomes, then, of the re-.
raarkable theory put forward by the
President himself on August 1s
1912 TO this question by Senate,
McCunDcr, stDo you believe that, il
GermAny had been guilty of no act
az injustice against our own citi.
zens. we should have come into the
war;" he answered: II believe it,
To this controversy Mr.. Lansing
has furnished q pertinent and In
teresting footnote.
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