Evening star., 1924-03-24
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

American peace delegation was Col.
House. Some of these stories caught
the eye of Mrs. Wilson, who did not
fail to take deep interest in every
thing that affected her husband and
particularly those things in which
she deemed that Mr.. Wilson's interests
were being subordinated. One day
the colonel went to the house where
the President and Mrs Wilson lived
during the peace conference AS was
his custom, the colonel stopped to
chat for a few moments with Mrs.
Wilson. The colonel was in high
spirits, feeling that the peace con-
ference was proceeding TO a success
full conclusion. He was particularly
jubilant that day because OF the ap-
section of the British press to the
support Of Mr.. Wilson. The colonel
told Mrs. Wilson that one of the most
prominent London editors had be-
come so impressed with the American
viewpoint that he could count on
effective editorial aid from that guar
ter. The colonel remarked that his
sole object was to help make the
whole negotiation a success, SO that
it would rebound to the credit of
his chief. Woodrow Wilson.
At this point Mrs. Wilson drew
forth clipping from the London
newspaper in question and pointed
TO an article of laudatory cha racter
which gave Col House the credit for
the many things accomplished in the
American peace mission. and which
pointed out that if Mr.. Wilson would
let the colonel alone there would be
an earlier agreement and much
better feeling all around.
Asked for Explanation.
Mrs Wilson asked Col. House for
an explanation Of that article, which
had appeared in a newspaper edited
by his friend Her inquiry inferred
he had inspired the article, the in
ference being that he had exploited
himself instead of the President. The
colonel is not given to outbursts of
Indignation but took the accusation
quietly. Just then the President
asked for the colonel and their con-
ference began.
After that episode the colonel did
not return to the Wilson home, but
conducted all his conferences with
the President at the Hotel Crillon.
Gossip had it that he never explained
the newspaper article to Mrs. Wilson.
Nor was there anything to explain.
He was not responsible for the specu-
lative comments of the newspapers.
The colonel was cut to the quick by
the GOODNESS which Mrs Wilson had
shown and which the President him
self developed Immediately afterward.
Inside the American peace mission
it became known that the there had
been a separation. The relations be-
tween the President and Col. House
were formal thereafter. They were
simply those conferences which Off
cial business required. Undoubtedly
the President absorbed Mrs. Wilson's
viewpoint. which. together with the
attacks that had been made OR Col.
served to end the warmth of the
relationship between these two
statesmen.
Sought for Compromises.
There is another phase of the cpl
sode which played an important part.
Col. House was naturally of a con-
ciliatory disposition. He was always
trying to keep the allied statesmen
in good humor, and while he had no
power to commit the American peace
mission to concessions he was try
ing constantly to bring about an
early peace and series of agree
ments which would make all the
powers feel more kindly toward the
treaty itself as well as the league
of nations. His policy may have been
a mistaken one, his concessions may
have been too numerous. but certain
it is they did not commit Mr.. Wilson
to any acceptance of the suggestions
the colonel was making.
Mr.. Wilson was warned shortly
after he arrived in Paris that Col.
House had made arrangements with
the various allied statesmen which
would make it difficult for the Presi-
dent to make peace. The criticism
came in the form of letter from
prominent New York editor who
had been in Paris. an editor whom
Mr.. Wilson held in high esteem. Thus
the campaign against Col House be-
gan almost Immediately after the
armistice. 1t succeeded in tie early
spring Of the following year. The
man who for so many years had
worked tirelessly and without COM
pensation of any sort for the United
States COVE rnment was cast adrift
by Mr.. Wilson. The defenders of
President Wilson in this controversy
will say no doubt that the activities
of Col. Hohse were deserving of the !
rebuke, that they received. 1t was
been given 50 much power. should /
be the victiiT of his own efforts to !:
please Woodrow Wilson and at the |,
same time make a practical peace. !
prove that had President Wilson fol- !
lowed Col. Houses advice he would i,
have secured more prestige for the j,
Versailles treaty. but this will al !
ways be a moot point because it in !
wolves the hypothetical and there !
We're so many circumstances inter-
related in Paris that no Clear judg- /
ment as to the merits of this par !
ticular phase Of the controversy will |
ever be formed. For Mr.. Wilson car
red to his grave the secret of his !
separation from Col. House. Mes j
sages were exchanged of courteous j
nature after the President became !
an invalid. but the old association was /
never re-estabiished. Indeed, at the |
funeral of Woodrow Wilson Col. |
House was not even invited to sit |
in mourning in the home on S street ,
where his chieftain lay dead.
Copyright. 1924, by the George H. Doran
Company in the United States. Canada South ,
America. Wsrld publication rights reserved !
by Current News Features, Incorporated)
(Tomorrow's chapter tells why Will !
son broke with Lansing and how the !
government functioned without AMI