Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-11
lar President Intended Per-
sonaiiy to Direct Peace Me-
gotiations Even Before the
United States Entered War
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1924, by the George Fl. Dorr
mpany, - the United States. Canada
Puth America. world publication rights
served by Current News Features, Incor
brated.)
CHAPTER VI
\ r oTHING perhaps illustrates
IN more forcibly the psychological
effect of the parliamentary
kca on the mind of Woodrow VIII
bn than his determination to at
End the Paris peace conference as
be head of the United States dele
ation. 1t was no sudden decision
rrived at In the two weeks between
he signing of the armistice and the
hy he set sail. Mr.. Wilson had Sc
ously considered going to Europe
Ven in the months when the Unit
States was neutral if by personal
md official mediation he could brlng
bout world peace. When M. WA
bn did go to Paris to represent the
United States in a conference o.
elligerents, people on this SIDE OIL
be Atlantic failed to grasp the
{gnificance of his relationship TO
ae other negotiators.
It was not a conference of sover'
&gns-no kings or emperors were
Eesent, It was a conference. how
teA, Of the heads OF parliamentary
nyernments-prime ministers ana
|reuders. In point Of rank all were
an equal footing except Mr.. Will
On who was not only prime min
$ter but the head of the state he
represented. BY virtue Of his dual
Bile, he was entitled to the considera-
Jon due both offices.
. To have stayed in America and
ent a member Of his cabinet as
cad Of the delegation would have
ermitted the prime minister OF
treat Britain and the premiers OF
be other countries to outrank the
hartman of the American delega-
lon. This did not comport with
lIr. Wilson's idea Of the dignity Oh
he United States as an equal nor
Fas it consistent with the influential
|art America had played in artlcu'
Rting the aims of the war. Inc
'ecretary for foreign affairs in the
british cabinet, Arthur Balfour. and
he minister of foreign affairs IN
he French cabinet, Stephen Pichon,
tere members Of their respective
delegations but they did not pre-
tde.
Prime Minister Lloyd George. the
lead Of the British government, and
keorges Clemenceau. the French
|remier, as we'll as Signor Orlando
he italian premier, together with
he president Of the United States
hade up the famous "big four" VINO
|onducted the peace conference.
Preparations for Versailles
1t was the first time in the his
bry of the American republic that
he executive of the presidential
Estem and the head Of the parlia'
hentary stem came face to face.
dr. Wilson found himself constant
v explaining the differences be-
tween the two. The British prime
hinister and the other premiers were
|ble to commit their governments TO
specific line of action. President
Wilson told his colleagues he could
lot do so. He n 2eded the concur.
ence of two.thirds Of the United
|tates senate to approve his negotia'
ure of their parliaments-if they
lad not been they could not have
emained at the peace conference.
crisis back home would overnight
ave forced a resignation or a gen.
raj election. Mr.. Wilson had lost
majority Of both houses OF con"
.ress but hoped to win non-partisan
Import for the treaty because never
n American history had a treaty OF
,eace been elected BY the United
states senate.
In this same connection 1t Is
,ertinent to disclose what were
Woodrow Wilson'S reasons for de-
lining to appoint to the American
,eace delegation any members of
he United States senate. He was
utterly criticised for his failure to
10 so, the argument being made
hat since treaties can be made only
With the advice and consent of the
enate, the latter body should have
representation on tie mission which
regulates the treaties. Mr.. Will
on never made public his viewpoint
m this. But he gave nevertheless
areful consideration to it before he
announced the personnel or the
American peace delegation. He
allied for an opinion from the de-
,artment of state. The opinion
endered was in conson@nce with a
'elief always held by Mr.. Wilson
hat President Mckinley made a
mistake when he appointed two
members of the senate. a Democrat,
md Republican, to sit on the dele
Skon which concluded a treaty of
gel,e with Spain after the war Of
1898. The action of Mr.. Mckinley
vas debated at length in the SEN
tie at the time, some Of the best
lawyers Of the day
that it was improper to
,ermit a member Of the legislative
branch of the government to hold
my office with or without COM
,ensa alton in the executive branch
,f the government.
On this point the constitution saws: