The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-07
WILSON KEENLY
WATCHES WAR
COUNCIL
Former President Anxious to
Learn How League Will
Act in Crisis.

In a modest red-brick dwelling In
S street, with it's row on row OF
dropping shade trees, is q man VINO
Is watching with an intensity I'M
usual even for him the great world
drama being unfolded at Geneva
by all the great nations of the earth,
save America.
Probably no single individual Is
more keenly interested in watching
the League of Nations struggles to
avert a new war In the cockpit OF
Europe than Woodrow Wilson.
While Europe trembles at the ap-
partition of another Balkan conflict
over the Qreece-1talian quarrel. he
sits in the backwash of world at
fairs where once his voice was
powerful, now only an interested
spectator in the dramatic fight
which the league-his leagues
waging for it's very existence.
Friend and foe Of the league alike
have said that IL it fails to settle
this Quarrel--its first really great
test-it might as well pack up and
quit"
It is the irony of fate. perhaps.
that Mr.. Wilson, the father or the
league and consequently its staunch-
est supporter, should sit quietly on
the sidelines at a time when the
covenant which he chiefly framed
is being subjected to its severest
ordeal. :.
The absorbing interest which Mr..
Wilson naturally feels in the out
come of the leagues fight mani
tests itself only by the avidity
with which he follows the dis
patches from Geneva. Every line
written by the correspondents at
the Swiss capital comes under his
eye.
He Remains Silent.
To no one, so far as Is known,
has Mr.. Wilson communicated his
own views to any great extent on
the merits Of the Grecian and
Italian dispute.
In common, however, with the
other proponents Of the league, he
is known to feel that this quarrel
is supremely the concern Of the
league, that this is the very kind
Of a situation which its progenitors
had in mind when they framed the
covenant.
1t is understood to be the opinion
OF Mr.. Wilson that Article IL, which
he helped to write, covers the pres
ent situation entirely:
ANY war or threat Of war,
Immediately affecting any
OF the members OF the League or
not, is hereby declared q matter OF
concern to the whole League, and
the League shall take any action
that may be deemed wise and effcc-
tual to safeguard the peace Of ma
lions, ."
Or again in Article B.: ".The
League may deal at it's meetings
with any matter affect
ing the peace OF the world"
Gets Personal Reports.
The, reports of the proceedings at
Geneva which the former President
follows 30 avidly in the newspa pers
are to be supplemented in the pres
ent case by personal reports he
Is to receive from two of his close
intimates who are daily sitting in
the spectators galleries at Geneva
Newton D. Baker, formerly his
Secretary OF War. and Senator
Swanson Of Virginia.
These two men, who are num-
bered among the very few Of the
ex-President's intimates, went to
Geneva for the primary purpose Of
observing this session Of the
League.
Whether they carry any message,
or whether they have any mission
from Mr.. Wilson, is not known.
Those who are in Mr.. Wilson 8
confidence say not-that he is so
retired from world affairs that he
has no more "emissarie But III
any event, they are there. and they
will bring to Woodrow Wilson when
they return complete reports on the
failure or success of the League,
which came into being at his in
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