Evening star., 1940-02-26
BY GARRETT d. HORNER,

by GAkNETT ID. HORNER.
President Wilson's distrust of some
allied statesmen and annoyance
with oncious American representa-
tives abroad reflected In sharp
comments to his wartime Secretary
Of State, which were belatedly made
public today.
Efforts by the United States Army
chieftains in France TO prevent the
armistice in the fall of 1918, dis
agreement with the allies over some
World War policies and the use of
big stick" diplomacy to acquire the
Virgin Islands also were disclosed.
Official documents revealing de-
tails of these and numerous other
matters pertaining to United States
foreign relations during its partici-
patton in the World War were made
available with publication of the
second of two volumes of the papers
which the late Robert Lansing took
with him when he resigned as Sec
retary of State In 1920. After his
death in 1928, his estate returned
them to the State Department,
which arranged for their publica-
ton.
Refers to "L.-G."
II must say I am afraid of any
expression of policy framed jointly
at Paris" Mr.. Wilson wrote Mr.
Lansing in February, 1918, concern
ing proposed formulation there of
an allied reply to an International
Red Cross appeal against the use. Of
poison gas. Il 4
There has been none yet" he
added, that seemed to me even
touched with wisdom. I see that
you have sought to suggest and
safeguard, but I am afraid that
statesmen like our friend L.-G. (pre-
sumably referring to David Lloyd
George will not care to be guided
and will rather rejoice in q some
what crude and cynical rejoinder to
the Red Cross" IS
Mr.. Lansing's belief that a League
of Nations to preserve peace would
not function until autocracy Is ell
tirely discredited and democracy
becomes the practically universal
principle in the political systems OF
the world" was emphasized in q
letter he wrote In April, 1918, to
Col. E. M. House, the Presidents
political representative on the su-
preme War Council.
If democracy should be made uni
versal II would not care q rap
whether there Is a treaty to pre-
serve peace or not" Mr.. Lansing
wrote.
The wartime Presidents vexation
with some of his representatives
abroad was indicated in his reply
to a suggestion by Secretary Lansing
that an American liason representa-
tive be sent to the British War
Trade Intelligence Department in
May. 1917.
"The practicability and wisdom
of carrying out this very useful sug-
gestion depends" Mr.. Wilson wrote,
"as in so many other cases.. upon
finding the right mana really
capable man who will be equally able
and well poised and sensible, not
likely to swell with importance and
instruct us every day by cable"
Sarcastic Reference to Pershing.
A sarcastic reference to Gen. John
j. Pershing, commander Of the
American Armies in France, was
~ la kxy DrneilA~f VYy{lcnn d. -.
other memorandum to Mr.. Lansing
on September 2, 1918, when he
wrote:
"Such message as this from Gen.
Pershing surprises me very much.
1t is the first time he has undertaken
to give advice, political as well as
military, in this way"
The message referred to appar-
emily concerned some diplomatic ac-
ton in connection with Bulgaria
and Turkey.
Gen. Pershing came In for more
criticism for Offering political" ad-
vice later when he sent q surprise
communication to the Supreme War
Council at Versailles on October 81,
1918. stating his belief that:
Complete victory can only be OBJ
tanned by continuing the war until
we force unconditional surrender
from Germany, but If the allied
governments decide to grant an
armistice the terms should be 80
rigid that under no circumstances
could Germany again take up arms.
Col. House cabled q report o1
the generals action to Mr.. VII.
son, advising him that when Brit.
ish Prime Minister Lloyd George
read the Pershing statement hi
commented, political, not military
sor,e one put him up to it," and
that French Premier Clemencear
remarked, theatrical and not ir
accordance with what he has sale
to Marshal Foch." Gen. Tasker H
Bliss, American military representa-.
tive on the Supreme War Council
backed up Gen. Pershing's opinion
about the armistice in the face oi
prevailing belief among the othel
allied commanders and politica
leaders that Germany should b.
granted an armistice witnouS com.
plete disarmament and demobilixa.
ton Immediately.
Gen. Bliss said in . report to Sec
retary Lansing after the war that h,
still believed Germany would havl
complied with . demand for com
plete disarmament and demohiAsa
tion during the last of October, 1911