Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-04-24
Mr.. Churchill Tells
About 1913
(Chicago Daily NewS)

Mr.. Roosevelt's diplomacy is almost
a replica of Mr. Wilson's, and that is
natural because Mr.. Roosevelt as as
sistant secretary of the navy was
close to Mr. Wilson and has always
regarded him as an inspiration. Mr..
Wilson had his Fourteen Points which
were to be the basis of peace. Mr..
Roosevelt has his Four Freedoms.
In 1929 Winston Churchill pub
lished the fourth volume of his men,
oirs, which he entitled THE After
math." From the American edition
(Scribner's) the following quotation
is taken:
president Wilson reached at the
armistice the zenith of his power and
fame Since the United States had
entered the war in its 32nd month,
he had proclaimed more vehemently
and upon occasion more powerfully
than any one else the Righteousness
of the allied cause. Coming into the
struggle fresh and cool, he had seemed
to pronounce the conclusions of an
impartial judge upon the terrible and
frantic diSputation. High above the
swaying conflict, speaking in tones
of majesty and simplicity, deeply
instructed in all the arts of popular
appeal, clad with power unmeasured
and certainly uneXhausted, he had APP
peared to the tortured and toiling
combatantS like messenger from
another planet sent to the rescue
of freedom and justice here below.
His words had carried comfort to
every allied people and had been most
helpful in silencing subversive peace
propaganda in all its forms"
That might have been written of
Mr.. Roosevelt in 1941. Mr.. Church.
i'll goes on to say that Gin the bleak
January of 1918" Mr.. Wilson, in adj
dressing congress, had listed the four
teen points upon which peace should
be founded. They were, says Mr..
Churchill, admirably if vaguely
phrased." They consisted in the
main of broad principles which could
be applied in varying degree accord
ing to the fortunes of war" The pro-
visions for an Independent Poland
and for the restoration to France of
Alsace-Lorraine were particularly
welcome to the allies because they
assured "a fight to a finish with
Germany"
Upon the basis of these admirably
if vaguely phrased" principles the
Germans sued for an armistice Only
then sit became imperative to make
sure what the Fourteen Points meant
and would be understood to mean
by friend and foe" Col. House, rep
resenting Mr. Wilson, met with the
allied chieftains in Paris to discover
that there were numerous points of
dissent and difference. He threatened
to make separate peace with Ger
many.
"Now this" says Mr. Churchill,
'was assuming great responsibility
for the United States. The armies
were still in full battle. Even in this
month of extreme American effort
nearly four British, French, and
Italian soldiers were falling every
day to one American. The stake of
the United States in the European
scene was incomparably small, yet
here was direct threat that if Great
Britain, France, and Italy did not
swallow the Fourteen Points whole,
whatever they might be or be claimed
to be, the United States would with
draw from the line, make separate
peace with Germany and Austria,
leave the scene in perfect confusion,
and condemn the world to another
year of war. 1t is measure of Lloyd
Georges quality when acting for his
country that he did not quail before
this unwarrantable pressure"
1t is unnecessary to trace the story
further AS is well known, MIR. Will
son agreed to certain reservations and
upon that basis, scarcely less vague
than before, the armiStice was ar
ranged.
There ought to be a moral in this
for the Four Freedomites, the Union
Mowers, and all the rest of the vision
aries who think they know what
this war is being fought for. When
it is over Europeans again will say
''the stake of the United States in the
European scene was incomparably
small" If Mr.. Roosevelt then in
sists upon his Interpretation of his
Four Freedoms it may be expected
that Mr.. Churchill in his turn will
reveal his quality when acting for
his country" Lloyd George knew
Gas Mr.. Churchill will know that
the President could talk at such a mo-