Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-06

Colonel House dictated his record to |
his secretary. sitting on<a long couch |
With gay-colored blanket thrown
over his legs. He spoke In a smooth.
even voice, bringing his hands to-
gcther softly from time to time,
just touching the nnAer
tips. sometimes the whole palms.
General Bliss wrote regularly and
yoluminously In longhand and like the
outright and truthful old soldier he ls,
made no bones about 1t. II WAS with
him a method OF Seiarifying his own
thoughts rather than OF setting down
an account OF events. l shall like HE
memoirs best OF all. think, when he
comes to publish them. As for the
others who kept records In that vast
Crillion establishment they were as
the sands OF the sea, and tho sounds
Of their pens Gone fancied he could
Identify II finally In the watches OF
the night was like the washing OF
waves on the beach.
SO much for the documentary and
other material. The Importance Of the
subject to be treated must excuse ref
erence also to the writer's own sources
OF knowledge at Paris.
I spent nearly ell OF the year 1918
as special commissioner Of the
state Department, visiting England
France and Italy. and making n series
of reports upon certain economic and
political conditions in the allied coun-
tries. These reports went primarily TO
the State Department and also to Col
onel House who was at the head OF the
Presidents Commission of Inquiry,
and some were transmitted direct to
the President himself. In the course OF
this year OF tremendous events, I met
many OF the important leaders In the
Allied countries and endeavored es-
peciAlly to Geo and understand the
powerful undcrcurrents: the labor and
liberal movements, at work in all
these countries. had also q close
view OF the war itself on the French
and Belgian fronts, and in Italy;
saw the etupendous efforts OF our own
Army, and, at first hand. the devasta-
ton wrought by the Germans. This
experience l found Invaluable In Civ
ing me clear understa nding OF the
Backgrounds of the Peace Conference:
the real foundations OF military force
and economic need upon which 1t
rested; and the atmosphere OF suffer
ing. dread, hatred. newly aroused am
billions. I'm which, at Paris. the dis
cussions took place. Too many OF tho
critics in America OF the Conference
have been without an <understa ndinS
OF these underlying and precedent con-
ditios.
Baker Appointed 10 Direct Press.
In December, 1918. several weeks
before the. Peace Conference opened.
President Wilson appointed the writer
to direct the press arrangements Of
the American Commission---in the fol-
lowing letter 10 Colonel House. where
In he also outlined the general method
OF publicity to 10 employed;
Ny dear House:
] have been thinking great
deal lately about the contact Of the
Commission with the Public
through the press and particularly
about the way in which the COM
mission should deal with the
newspaper men who have come
over from the United States. l
have come TO the conclusion that
sA'~ pNSs N1N w ldDQle tIe
matter is for you and the other
commissioners to hold brief
meeting each day and invite the
press TO come in at each meeting
for such interchange Of informa-
ton or suggestion as may be
thought necessary. This | am su,e
Is preferable TO any Informal plan
or TO any less definite arrange
| ment
am convinced also that the
preparation Of all the press mat
ter that Is to be issued from the
Commission Is a task calling Tor a
particular sort OF experienced
ability. l beg, therefore, that Won
and your fellow Commissioners
| VIII agree to the appointment OF
Mr.. Ray Stannard Baker a. your
representative in the performance
OF this duty. Mr.. Baker entoys
my confidence in very high de-
gree and l have no hesitation in
commencing him to you as a man
OF ability, vision and ideals. He
has been over here for the better
part or year, has established re-
| lauonships which will be Of the
highest value, and is particularly
esteemed by the very class OF per-
sons 10 whom IL wilR be most ad-
Nahtageous TO us to be properlv
interpreted in the news that wa
nave TO issue. II you see no con-
ciusive objection to this. / would
suggest that you request NJ
Baker to do Us the very great scr
wee OF acting In this CAPACITY
am writing In the same terms
10 the other members Of the Com
mission.
Sincerely yours.
| (S.gned) Woodrow wueo,
80 II became my task to organize
the Press Bureau OF the America
commission. and Offices were onenef
at No. Place de la Concorde. nea,
the Hotel Crillon. Through this ono,
passed all the official news of the Cor
ference; and it became, moreover. .
center at which gathered the repre-.
sentatives OF all the delegates AND
commissions from all countries tba,
came to Paris; everyone who wa,
seeking the support OF American In.
nuence and American opinion, ant
VINO was not? We also saw all tn,
various delegations from America; tn,
irish, the Jews, the labor leaders. tn,
"omen's organizations, the negroes
IT was one Of the busiest offices OF th,
Commission.
Inc writer's duties brought. him In.
70 contact with the American Com
mlssioners every morning before th,
daily session with the correspondent.
ana during all the later months OF tn,
Conference he saw the President eac,
l Xfal.Ian6ara (1.li l. q