Bonsal, Stephen
Stories
2
Chapters
255
Words
240.5 K
Comments
0
Reading
20 h, 2 m
Several days ago the President’s indignation at the way in which many of the senators are hampering his activities, the strong impression which he brought back with him from Washington, blazed out. To Lansing he said (March 17), “I must free myself from the servitude which many of the senators seek to impose upon me, and for this reason I have decided to accept the time-saving expedient, which hitherto I have rejected, of a preliminary treaty.” Lansing admitted that he was disturbed and…- 113.7 K • Completed
- Note: After my scamper ninth General Smuts in Southeastern Europe (April 1, to 11), as related in Unfinished Business, I was back in my interpreter’s box for the League of Nations Commission. It may be noted that several entries in my diary bear dates of my absent days. Apparently I drew my information for these from my Colonel’s daybook and chronicled these events on the dates when they occurred, even though I was not on the spot at the time. Some of the newspaper observers, more familiar…
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- Another visit from Williams, who will not be comforted. He is a China expert and an able adviser to the President. To him China is not only important, it is the world problem. As a matter of fact, I understand his feelings perfectly. “The Japs have gotten more than they asked for. They should give China, who engineered the deal, the Order of the Kite or some other equally high-flying decoration. That speck of land which they have graciously agreed to give back to China is a dot on the harbor head which…
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- Viscount Chinda and Baron Makino came in again today, frock-coated and very formal. Evidently the activity of the innumerable pro-Chinese press agents has fully aroused them from the almost Buddhistic calm they had maintained hitherto. Chinda talked with almost incredible rapidity. Makino was impressively silent. Fortunately they left with me a memorandum which explains the purpose of their visit. It read: Our duty is to expose the propaganda of the Germans for the purpose of spreading unrest in the…
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- All is not quiet along the Seine tonight. Trouble is brewing and it comes from the experts of the Inquiry who, to the number of two or three score, came over on the George Washington with the President determined to put the unruly peoples of Europe, Asia, and Africa in their proper places and make the world safe for democracy. They have served formal complaint to the effect that they are not in the close touch with the President, or with his lieutenant, House, to which they are entitled and the critical…
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- The last ten have been crucial days and at times the outlook for the long-sought world settlement has been none too bright. It is most unfortunate that the French and the Italian delegates should be so well informed as to Wilson’s increasing difficulties with the Senate and the insistent, indeed the imperative demand that has been served on him in Washington as to the necessity of making a hard and fast reservation in regard to the Monroe Doctrine. At times it has looked as though the Isolationists, far…
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- The President has ordered a report on Armenia—another! And I am it! He asks that Lord Bryce be consulted (that indeed will be easy, as this interesting old Scot practically “parks” in our office). But, says the President, the data which he (His Lordship) submits must be carefully “tested.” My main difficulty with His Lordship is to keep him from dragging in Bulgaria—as he admits, the peasant state is a hobby of his—and then of bringing him up to date. He loves to linger on the days when the…
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- One of the reasons why we are making so little progress in carving up Turkey is undoubtedly the confusion in the plans and proposals of the Giaours, for which all good Moslems pray every day at the afternoon prayer—and, apparently, these prayers are heard. The President’s original plan, or purpose, contemplated international control for Constantinople and the Straits. This is now interpreted by many as meaning that the Turks are to remain masters of Anatolia. When we look at Point Twelve for guidance,…
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- Three of the strangest looking men wandered into my office yesterday morning. Their dark mysterious faces and their stealthy tread excited the suspicions of our guardian sailors, but soon they produced a letter from Venizelos which authenticated their mission. The Greek Premier said they were the properly accredited representatives of the Overseas Greeks, as yet “unredeemed,” of the Euxine Pontus (better known in the western world as the Black Sea). But on closer inspection of the letter from the…
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- I have recorded in my diary the terrible charge which Father Hlinka brought against Beneš as to the manner in which General Stefanik met his death. I had neither the opportunity nor the authority to investigate his indictment, but I would not feel justified in suppressing it. The fact that he believed in it explains much that followed. I greatly admired Beneš’s behavior at the Conference, and it was certainly extremely fortunate for the Czech people to have such a resourceful leader.] “One of…
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