Evening star., 1942-07-29
Ex-AustraIian Premier
BIames Wilson for
Present Jap Trouble
Hughes Says U. 5. Should
Have Token Over Pacific
Islands at Versailles
BY GEORGE WELLER,
War Correspondent OF The Star and
Chicago Daily News.

1IStEdQ Ol DclnB cut OH from lnS
Philippines by labyrinth of Japa-
nese islands. America might have
had direct access from Pearl Har-
Dor to her Asiatic possessions. In
stead of being forced back south
ward and eastward in the Pacific
America might have held Japan in
check with barrier of islands
stretching one-third across the
Pacific. Instead of being obliged to
stand by, unable to help the gallant
defenders Of Bataan and Corregidor,
America might have been at their
side within hours after they were
attacked.
How? BY having taken over the
Island groups of the Carolines, Mari
annes and Marshalls at the Ver-
sailles Peace Conference instead of
letting Japan pocket them.
The man who says so is William
Morris Hughes, grand old man of
Australia who, despite his 78 years,
has mind as clear as water, speech
as sharp and lively as a cricket,
and is up to the armpits in the war
effort today.
Mr.. Hughes ought to know. For
he was Australia's Premier during
the whole of World War 1 and was
Australia's representative at the
Versailles Conference. And without
making any bones about it, he says
the reason America won the last
European war but lost the peace was
Woodrow Wilson.
Called Unrealistic.
He was the most tryingly unreal
istic man." Mr.. Hughes says. 1T
seemed to us as though never in his
life before had he been obliged to
deal with other men on terms of
equality"
President Wilson's defect in ar
ranging the Pacific peace was, ac-
cording to Mr.. Hughes, that when
the Japanese reached out for the
triple island groups which barred
the United States from the Philip
pines, President Wilson bowed be-
fore Baron Maxine, head of the Jap
diplomats. Why?
Because Japan had big navy
that was why" Mr.. Hughes says.
Japan had blackmailed a promise
out OF Britain that in return for not
joining the Central Powers she
would get those islands. Australia
did not want Japan there because
1t menaced us. Wilson could have
changed the entire pattern not alone
In the Pacific but anywhere in the
world. Those days in Paris he was
like God. But then and there
America lost her first chance to stop
Japan"
Mr.. Hughes is a small man with
leathery skin and when he talked
with your correspondent he was
wearing a bat-wing collar and pearl
shirt studs. He is a lawyer as well
as q member of Parliament.
Irked by U. S. View.
Americas failure to comprehend
the meaning OF Japan's rise in the
Pacific irked Mr.. Hughes particu-
larly because he Is himself the soul
OF realism in dealing with enemies.
Once he opposed sanctions against
Italy on the Ethiopian affair on the
ground that Britain was unprepared
to fight, but in the same year pub
1ished Australia and the War To-
day" the first call for the correction
OF neglects in defense which Ameri-
can Intervention has now repaired.
Seeing President Wilson uninter-
ested In Western Pacific bases, Mr..
. Hughes asked Baron Maxine cat
Versailles) to put the Jap delegates
behind Australia's effort to obtain
control Of the German territories in
New Guinea, New Britain and the
Solomon Islands. Maxine shrugged
his shoulders. He would help Aus
tralia-if Australia helped persuade
President Wilson that the Japs
should have the mandate over the
Marshalls, Carolines and Mariannes
But you already have put youl
garrisons in there" Mr.. Hughe.
said.
only little garrisons," said Ma.
kino, kissing politely
And thus was born the man.
date actually tantamount to pos.
session, which was to give Japar
hundreds of what a Japanese ad
miral calls fixed aircraft carriers
between Pearl Harbor and tht
Philippines.
Difficulties Persuading Wilson.
Mr.. Hughes had other diff1cultie.
persuading President Wilson tha'
Australia should get New Guinea
New Britain, the Solomons ant
other islands for which American
soldiers and sailors are strugglin,
shoulder to shoulder with Aus
tralians today. 1t had been decided
by the British Imperial War Coun
Gil. about June, 1918, that when tn,
war was won most territories woult
be inundated out between England
and France. but that South Afric;
should get German Southwest Afric,
intact and without strings and Aus
tralia should similarly get the is
lands where the Japs are based to
day.
Wilson was not trying to get an
Pacific islands for American bases.
Mr.. Hughes says. When said tha
whoever held those islands con
trolled Australia Wilson simply re
fused to pay attention. He insiste
that there must be plebiscites.
said, But Mr.. President, these ma
tlves are cannibals. They eat peo
pie! Even Lord Balfour smiled q
that. But not Wilson. He wa
sumorless.'
In attempting to obtain for Aus
tralia control of the waters wher
the Coral Sea battle was to b
fought % years later, Mr.. Huphe
went to Col. Edward M Hous
and asked him to intervene on Aus
trahas behalf. Col. House said. ae
cording to Mr.. Hughes: Il shoul
lose my influence upon the Pres
dent If I opposed him on subject
on which he has already made u
his mind"
Mr.. Hughes then tried Secretar
POSITIVELY KILLS