Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-16
RIFT WITH WILSON
DISPUTED BY HOUSE
Never Was a Break, Only a
Lapse, Texans Editor
Declares.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

"A tragic mystery" is Col. Edward
NJ Houses own description of his sep
STATION from Woodrow Wilson," accord
Ing to the latest volumes of the Texans
Intimate Papers which have just
been published. House decley - mat
the breach with the war President nov
can never be dispelled. for it's explana-
ton lies buried with him." The nan
who for nearly eight years ranked as
President Wilson'S closest confidential
counselor denies that the breach be-
tween them was ever a break" It is
described as rift which was only a
''lapse."
The story of the strained relations
between Wilson and House is told, on
the latter's authority. by Prof. Charles
Seymour of Yale, the editor of the
House papers. 1T is true that the re-
lationS of Wilson and House had I'M
dergone a certain change during the
course Of the peace conference" re-
marks Seymour, so it is possible that.
apart from the physical separation en-
forced by illness, Houses advice might
not have been followed so closely as
in times previous"
Nature of Rift Hidden.
Editor Seymour nevertheless admits
that the precise nature of the estrange-
nent has never been adequately cleared
up.
Washington has guessed for nearly
10 years as to why the Wilson House
entente cordiale was broken up. One
of the commonest explanations has
been that Col House gave certain
pledges to Premier Orlando of Italy
at the Paris peace conference, where
by American support of Italian de-
signs on Fiume was assured. When the
time came, Wilson, it was said, declined
to carry out Houses arrangement with
Orlando, as the President favored CIV
ing Jugoslavia that coveted window
on the Adriatic''
In addition-so the story ran-Wil-
son quarreled with the Texas colonel
for taking it upon himself to bind the
United States Government on SO vital
a question. There is apparently no ref
erence to the Fiume incident in the
latest inStalment of the House papers
Prof. Seymour disputes the widely
circulated theory that Wilson was Bit
terly indignant with House because 'the
President was informed that the colonel
betrayed Wilson'S policies during the
1atter'S absence from Paris in February,
1919, and thereafter withheld his trust"
Long after these unfounded reports be-
came current, Prof. Seymour discloSes,
House was deputized to substitute for
Wilson in the meetings of the big FOUR
and later Wilson confirmed all the steps
taken by the colonel.
Handled Delicate Affairs.
In April, two months before the sign
ing of the peace treaty, Wilson appointed
House as his intermediary in the deli
cate negotiations" which the United
States was carrying on with Great
Britain and France. It was during this
same period that the President. an
inveterate letter writer, often sought
Houses opinion, invariably signing his
communications ''affectionately."
To prove that the world was mis-
taken in August, 1919, when newSpa-
pers in both hemispheres announced
"a personal break" between Wilson and
House, the new volumes of the colonels
papers reproduce the following note
from House to Wilson: Dear governor:
Our annual falling out seems to have
occurred I am wondering where
this particular story originated. =
Affectionately yours, E. M. House"
The Texan, who was abroad at the
time, received cablegram from the
President, dated August 80, 1919, read
ing: Am deeply distressed by malicious
story about break between us and thank
you for the whole message about it.
The best way to treat it is with silent
contempt"
Not the least interesting revelation