Evening star., 1924-03-17
The True Story of
Woodrow Wilson
By DAVID LAWRENCE.


Two courses of action were open
to Mr.. Wilson in an effort to pre-
serve an equilibrium inside the United
States. He believed. for instance.
that the failure of the British gov
ernment to uphold traditional prin-
ciples on the high seas in the rules
of maritime warfare relating to neu-
trail vessels must not be permitted
to pass without protest. The British
people resented Mr.. wilson's notes,
arguing<that Great Britain was fight
ing "the battle of civilization" and
that the United States should not
annoy the British navy with prece-
sador Walter Hines Page at London
shared the British view and wrote
many emphatic letters to the Presi-
dent urging that the British be let
alone. Mr.. Wilson hoped in his
heart, of course, that the allies would
win, but for time he was of the
opinion that such a victory might
be obtained without compromising
the neutrality of the United States.
Mr.. Pages letters, many of which
have been published. revealed that he
was constantly trying to bring the
United States government into a view
more sympathetic with his own, and
the difficulty which readers of the
future will have in appraising the
significance Of those epistles is that
American participation in the war
and not in the background of the
neutrality days in which they were
written.
Quarrels With Ambassador.
Mr.. Page and President Wilson
were constantly quarre!ing with one
another over American policy, and if
it is true that the Washington gov
ernment did not see eye to eye with
Ambassador Page on what was hap
pening in Europe, SO it is also true
that Ambassador Page did not appre-
clate what was happening contempo-
raneously in the United States.
Different conceptions there are, to
be sure, of what the function of an
American ambassador is or should
government the President of the
United States is charged with the
conduct of foreign policy. With the
guidance of the Secretary of State,
he formulates principles of action in
conformity. with what appears to be
public opinion inside the United
States and not outside. There are
ambassadors who consider them
selves to be not agents OF the United
States government charged with the
most tactful manner the instructions
and commands given them by the
President or Secrwetary of State, but
who regard themselves as secretaries
OF state residing abroad. Mr. Page
felt that the Washington govern
ment should follow his recommended
tions. President Wilson felt that Mr..
Page should follow the instructions
given him by the Washington gov
ernment. The controversy did not
become n he
author and other newspaper men were
We'll aware OF the friction. and it
was commonly reported that Mr.. Will
son had said of Mr.. Page that "he
was too pro- British"
Living in the London environment,
MI: rage was tempted to absorb the
British viewpoint. He was man
with the courage of his convictions
While he did not belive at the time
that his letters were having effect
there is no question of their influ'
ence In staying the hand of Mr.. Will
son and the Department of State with
reference to the transmission of pro-
tests not too violent in language or
100 threatening in tone. The British
never for moment were afraid that
the United States might enter the
war against them. They knew that
al! danger of that had been swept
a side by the sinking of the Lusitania
and the constant violation by Ger
many of American rights on the high
seas, destroying human lives, where
as the British tranSgresSions affected
contraoand property of American cit
izens.
An Asset in Prosperity.
The United States, moreover was
enjoying the beginnings of an in
dustrlal revival due to the heavy pur-
chases made by the allied govern
ments in the United States, and pros
perity was too good political slogan
to be scorned in the campaign Of
1916, wherein Mr.. Wilson was to come
up for re-election-a materialistic
consideration by no means controlling
but present nevertheless as an in
cidental factor.
With respect to the Irish question.
be of service both to the Americans
of Irish descent and the British gov
ernment. and he was not slow fo
let the British know that their cause
inZthe United States was being in
At the Presidents elbow stood an
Irishman-Private Secretary TumuItv
who was well aware Of the politi-
cal value of the Irish question in the
United States. Secretary Tumulty
EAAfS" thoe ScCIlOnS OF the dem
ocratic vote, especially in the large
cities came from the Irish and their
sons. In his own home district, Jer-
sey City, were thousands of Irish
voters, and he knew the Importance
OF out reetSa,nlag eSa cosnth their support through
was always in sympathy with the
aspirations of the Irish peopie-he
knew history too well to regard the
desires of the Irish as Unnatural mr.
repressible. He never lost a favor.
able opportunity to remind the Brit
ish of the American relationship to
the Irish question. ~
Made No Pacific F.ronixes.
While the anti-war element in the
United States during the campaign
OF 1915 was by no means made I'D of
persons who sympathized with Ger
many as against Great Britain, thou
sands of anti-British partisans voted
the democratic ticket because of a
belief that Mr.. Wilson would keen
the United States out of war on the
SIDE OF England. In not a SINGLE
speech or statement did President
Niison promise to keep the country
OUT OF war. but the stump Sneakers
uIo, and the theme of the entire cam
paIgn as conducted by democrafic
nIee:aoquarters was a defense of M
WILSON'S policy in refusing to 90 -
war With Germany. From this +bo
SPECIAL. NnTTrre