Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-20
"Sinale-Track Mind

President Wilson once said Of him
self tina. he had a single track
mind" lie eXempifled 1t in these
early days Of the conference. No
matter what happened he moved
straight forward toward his objcc-
tiVes.
On the first day Of the conference
the French offered heir plan of pro
Cedure. which put the consideration
~. the League of Nations last. On
the next day tho President intro
duced his list Of subjects" which
put .hc League first. lie evidently
expected that IL would be discussed
by the Council itself. and its prin-
ciples. IL not its details. worked out
nv the heads Of States as The basis
OF the settlements.
Tho British. in their usual fashion,
set TO work at once to draft reso-
luton - bring the matter definitely
before the conference. Both the
british and French were adopts I'm
the preparation of such documents;
they knew we'll the tactical value Of
putting down .he actual written pro-
posal.
The principal purpose Of this Brit
ish resolution was To get the discus
sion of the League out of the Coun
ell and into the hands Of n special
committee. The copy which we find
in MIR. Wilson's file is printed on n
single sheet OF paper crowned by the
British seal and dated January Is.
IL was handed to the President, no
doubt. Cor immediate approval, but
he held IL back for a week.
During all this time discussions
were going on outside The Council.
The Presidents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
in the last Chapter--at least certain
concrete proposals in il. like those
Tor cutting down ornaments and The
mandatory control of colonies-had
fallen into the European camp with
something OF the effects OF a bomb
shell. These things gave the allied
leaders a clear glimpse. for the first
line. OF what the Americans in
tended to do-it they could. Wide
differences of view at once devel-
oped. especially with the French and
Italians.
Wilson Wasted General Discussion
Nevertheless, the President still
hoped that the League would be dis
cussed. so far as it's general prin'
lies were concerned. in The mair
councils and by the heads Of States
on January 81 he told Clemenceau
who so informed the Ten, that III
intended to submit the question o
League Of Nations al the mex
meeting" Here follows the discus
sion in the secret minutes:
MIR. Lloyd George stated that h
agreed TO this, and suggested tha
the question OF the League o: Ma
lions be taken up at the next meet
ing. and that those present lay dow
he general principles and then ap
point an international committee I
work on the constitution of III
League.
President Wilson asked whethe
Mr.. Lloyd George contemplated
committee formed of delegates.
MIR. Lloyd George answered tina
he thought i: would be desirable I
have qualified persons on the con,
mittee.
President Wilson then eXplaine
for the information of those preseT
how he had gone about DRAWN
up a constitution. He stated that
had taken the Phillimore report ar
had asked Colonel House TO rewri'
e: He had then rewritten Colon
Houses constitution 10 suit his oyy
Ideas. Subsequently he had Studio
he plans prepared by Gener
SHUTS and Lord Robert Cecil. ar
then he had rewritten the consti-l
zion once more. Finally he had hi
a talk with Mr.. Bourgeois. and
was glad 10 say that he had four
mis- ideas in substantial accord wit
Mr.. Bourgeois. General SHUTS al
Lord Rober. Cecil.
Mr. Balsour suggested that Il
Presidents draft be referred TO Il
committee.
President Wilson thought il w,
tina. the committee be formed
those men who had already studio
the question.
MIR. Lloyd George agreed to tn
and as he would like TO have DO
General SHUTS and Lord Robe
Cecil on the committee, he suggest
hat the committee be composed
two persons appointed by each of 4
delegations Of the great powers"