Evening star., 1924-02-05
WILSON HAD HOPED
TO WRITE ON WAR
Plan for History of Conflict
First Made in 1919,
Says Journalist.
ILLNESS THWARTED AIM
Psychological Side of Fighting De-
clared More Vital to Executive
Than Physical.
ILLNESS THWARTED AIM
ny ROBERT II. SMALL.

Special Dispatch to The star.
MIAMI. Fla, February 1.-THE
failure of the United States to enter
into the league of nations was not
Woodrow Wilson's only thwarted
ambition. 1t was his aim and pur-
pose to write a history of the world
war. He had written a history OF
the American people. which had been
recognized as a standard work, and
he felt himself competent above most
other men to write the inside story
of the war.
In one of his public addresses he
mao said: With the causes of the
war we have no concern" but In all
.'s proposals Tor peace he showed
that the causes OF the war had con
Selh.o MIN a. great deal and were
bouhd to be considered In the
making of the peace.
HRd Plan Made i'm 1919.
INC writer had the privilege of first
uIscIosing the fact that Mr.. Wilson
intended. after his retirement from,
tn me "hite House. to devote himself
10 history Of the world struggle
Ihis was early in 1919. Later fhat
year at a luncheon given to the mem
uers OF the democratic committee at
she white House, Mr.. Wilson con-
.iirnned .i the report. He did this at a
time when some Of the committee
were insisting that he should stanS
for a third term. ''""u
ar. Wilson had no such intention
aIthoush there were those who in :,
fnNa3i, srs,ea even yer. after he was a helpless
.nValid that he harbored the ambition
70 be the first third-term Presidsnt In
'he re- history Of the United States.
Inc blow which laid Mr.. Wilson ,ow
robbed the world ~,
d sreae historic work. 1t would nor
miri,. ueen much OF record of the
~ iiiiitary side of the war Mr. Wilson
mao no great insight into that nbasa
OF the struggle.
~ often was remarked that in :.
aedsS'1n pavid Ipoyd Of Gsohe 5hs actual aght.ns
advantage over all of the other world
statesmen, including even "Tipert
Ciemenceau himself.
Studied Mental Side
To Mr.. Wilson fighting was but =
necessary evil in the war. He studied
on1 1 Mar purely from the psychologist
cal or sentimental side and from the
moment America entered the con-
Met MIR. Wilson began to talk about
the points on which peace would be
CONSIDERED: His disregard Of the
phFsical side, it was often said in
d.
apie to do with the prolongation of
the war.
Mr.. Wilson would not concern him
self with the details Of the airplane
program. He knew little or nothing
or the cantonments. of the condition
cult to interest him on the shipping
problems which confronted the coun-
try. He may or may not have agreed
with Secretary OF War Baker that it
was not necessary to send vast
number OF American soldiers to
While Mr. Wilson was making his
notable address in this country on
the basis Of the peace. Great Britain
sent word that she was fighting with
her back to the wall. Then. and not
until then, did change come over
the Washington government.
Changes to Side OF Force.
Up to this time Mr.. Wilson had not
visited a camp or a shipyard or an
airplane factory or munitions
works. Those were phases Of war
making which did not interest him.
But suddenly Wilson. the man OF
peace, became the man of force He
came out for force without limit,
force without stint.
Despite his awakening to the i'm
portance Of the military side Of war,
Mr.. Wilson felt that that part of his
Tory COulU Ue well leIt TO OtnerS. HIS
story was Of war in it's effect upon
humanity, in it's relationship to the
history OF the world, and he was to
tell, as he could better than any one
else, the real story Of the fight for
peace.
Neither Lloyd George nor Orlando
nor Clemenceau has yet brought him.
self to the task Of history. Wilson
had purposed to do it. Despite his
illness he was reluctant for a long
time to give up the task. He had