Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-29
CHAPTER XIV


by Current News Features, IncorpOrated.)
CHAPTER XIV
TT was while Mr.. Wilson was in
Bermuda that he encountered his
first bit of world diplomacy. The
British government maintains at
Bermuda a governor general who
was instructed on that occasion to
extend every hospitality to the pres
ident-elect. Just what Instructions
beyond that were given him is a
matter which is known only, of
course, to the British government,
but in any event the governor gen
eral took Occasi during one of his
social chats with Mr.. Wilson to dis
cuss the status of the Panama Canal
tolls controversy, pointing out the
hope of Great Britain that r. Viii
son might be able to bring about
reversal of the action of congress in
eXempting American vessels from
the payment of Panama Canal tolls
and thus discriminating against Brit
ish vessels, which had been guaran'
teed equal treatment under the Hay
Pauncefote treaty.
Woodrow Wilson had an oppor
tunity to discuss the same question
with Ambassador James Bryce be-
fore the latter left for England. He
had a profound admiration for Mr..
Bryce, begun in Princeton days
when the noted ambassador had
visited him there.
Mr.. Wilson was cognizant of the
value of British support as opposed
to British hostility in world affairs,
but as he was much more impress
ed by the fact that the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty seemed to give Grear
Britain rights which tho act of
congress had taken away. Mr.. Will
son knew also that the slightest
indication of American friendship
for Great Britain would irritate
the sh-Americans and would cause
Germany to look a.skance at Amerl-
can policy, a reflex of which might
be German-American opposition.
Fought by BernstOrff
Indeed Mr.. Wilson'S fears were
fully confirmed on these two points
a few months later when he asked
congress to repeal the law that had
been passed in a previous session
bv which American vessels had been
exempted from the payment of tolls.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, realized that a victory
for President Wilson in the circum
stances would be construed abroad
as the growth of an entente between
the United States and Great Britain.
He worked tooth and nail to defeat
the purposes of Mr.. Wilson.
AS it happened, the president-elect
little dreamed while he was in Ber-
g., oh inc
Of the Panama canal tolls COntroVer-
sy on world diplomacy. His decl-
sion to make the appeal in behalf OF
Cheat Britain on the ground that
treaty had been violated was a mo-
mentous one as will appear in subse-
quent exposition of the Wilson Tor
eign policy =.
But even though Mr.. Wilson realiz-
ed and feared that he would be con-
fronted with important questions of
foreign policy he did not think they
would become paramount. His mind
was fixed during the Bermuda Vaca-
zion on the all-absorbing task OF
picking a cabinet.
Should it's members be political
leaders chosen for their influence IN
congress or should they be trusted
personal friends of proved compe-
tence and administrative talent? He
frankly discussed the two theories
but gave no indication at the time
as to which he preferred. lClrcum-
stances. he realized, would control
the ultimate decision and he was
enough of a student Of practical poll
tics to realize that he must give
weight to political considerations il
he expected to win the necessary
support for a legislative program in
congress.
Bryan a Problem
To all the talk that there would be
friction between himself and Champ
Clark, the speaker of the house, or
Oscar w. Underwood, the majority
leader, there came from Mr.. Wilson
uneouivocal predictions to the con-
trary. lie scented mischiefmakers
but gave evidence that would go
more than half way to meet the
wishes of congressional leaders.
Possibly nobody in America real
lied better than Woodrow Wilson
the difficulties that might ensue II
he failed to select William Jennings
Bryan for a portfolio in the cabinet.
No one, on the other hand, had been
as keenly aware of Mr.. Bryan's
| temperamental fondness for the
stump and public speaking rather
than Involuntary silence and seclu-
sion imposed by tradition upon sec
retarv Of state. Mr.. Wilson felt from
! the start that Mr.. Bryan's position
as a leader of the Democratic party
| in three separate Campaigs entitled
| him to the ranking position in the
| cabinet of a Democratic administra-
! tiOr.
One of the first things Mr.. Wilson
! did on his return from Bermuda
| early iu December, 1912, was to offer
! the secretaryship of state to Mr..
! Bryan and the latter accepted. The
! tender was made verbally and was
! kept a secret for many weeks Col
| Edwin NJ House. who had become
/ identified with the Wilson precOn-
vention campaign, began at once TO
enlist Mr.. Wilson'S interest in cur
rency reform on which he had spent
many years of study. president
| elect sanctioned a trip by Colonel
! House to Florida to let Mr.. Bryan
| know in a general way of the plans
! for currency legislation and to win
/ his support 1t was Colonel Houses
/ tact and skill on this mission that
/ prompted the president-elect to rely
more and more on the judgment of
/ his new-fOund adviser.
Looked Wen on Paper
The colonel had the happy idea
/ that John Bassett Moore, America s
most eminent authority on interna-
tional law, could be persuaded to &C
cept the position Of counselor of the
department. Of state, and that the
team of Bryan and Moore would sat
issy public opinion. especially that
part Of it which did not believe Mr..
Bryan would follow a conventional
policy in handling foreign affairs.
Looking back on the hopefulness