Bonsal, Stephen
Stories
1
Chapters
81
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89.4 K
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Reading
7 h, 27 m
Today, on the eve of his departure, the President gave House, and in my presence, very definite instructions for his guidance while he was away. He said: “During my unavoidable absence I do not wish the questions of territorial adjustments or those of reparations to be held up.” I would have concluded from these words that the President left House in control, but House did not so interpret them. “The President does not mean that I am authorized to definitely settle anything,” he explained, “but…- 91.2 K • Completed
- Irritated by a statement in an English paper today to the effect that the disapproval of many Senators already formally, if not officially, expressed boded no good to the Covenant and made its acceptance by Congress uncertain, the President expressed his dissent—indeed his indignation. “Those Senators do not know what the people are thinking,” he insisted. “They are as far from the people, the great mass of our people, as I am from Mars. Indeed they are out of touch with the thinking,…
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- The President showed today unmistakable signs of irritation with his co-workers on the Peace Treaty. Attempts are being made, and they are many and subtle, to separate the Treaty from the Covenant, but they are not as many or quite as Machiavellian as the President chooses to assume. Much can be said in favor of rushing ahead with a settlement of territorial and reparation matters. Foch reports, no doubt correctly, that the Germans are “welshing” on all the disarmament clauses of the Armistice…
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- For the second time the admission of India to the League, which had been on several occasions sidetracked, was brought up again, and, of course, by Cecil. “Does the President propose to admit India, or does he oppose her admission? It seems to me it should not be forgotten that during the war India mobilized a million men. The British Government has treated India according to her Colonial program, long tested in the school of experience. It is true that part of India is autocratically governed, yet it…
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- After the religious clause was today again postponed, M. Batalha Reis (Portugal), Professor at the University of Coimbra, who loved to bring to light forgotten pages of history, approached the President and said: “If you permit, I would like to make an inquiry of you, in your personal capacity as a world-renowned teacher of, as well as a maker of, history. What interpretation should be placed on this undoubted fact to which I venture to call your attention? The Treaties of Westphalia (1648), which…
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- One might assume that with all his tremendous responsibilities the President would not find the time for the petty attitudes and gestures which disfigure his character as they do, I fear, so many great men. But, unfortunately, he finds the time. He takes every opportunity of sowing ill feeling between House and Lansing, and they deserve great credit in refusing to participate in a personal feud, which the President apparently seeks to provoke. Why the President brought Mr. Lansing to Paris is an enigma,…
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- However, in the afternoon session the long-gathering storm broke with great intensity. Despite the warning of General Smuts when he submitted the mandate clause that any changes would bring tumbling to the ground the agreement that has been so painfully reached, there are rumblings in many quarters. The French are dissatisfied with it because they say it lacks clarity.” In reality, they fear it will prevent them from raising black troops in Africa which have been so useful in the war. The representatives…
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- Should they ever fall into critical hands, I owe an explanation of how and why these diaries and these much-too-copious memoranda were scribbled by one who, before the great catastrophe overtook us, was completely immune to the diary contagion. For my deplorable activity I offer this word of explanation. It was enforced—not voluntary. From the first days of our collaboration, which began with the Armistice negotiations, at his request I made full reports on the situation as I saw it to Colonel…
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- Miller’s darling project is to insert in the Covenant a provision for compulsory arbitration; all the minor powers who have heard of it support the idea enthusiastically. However, Lord Robert Cecil came in this afternoon and he made it exceedingly clear to House that England, at least, would have none of it. “I hate to be a stumbling block to the realization of a dream, a world without war, which I confess exerts a strong appeal upon me. But in this present situation it would be far from wise if we…
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- Surrounded by a cortege of the Republican Guard and a squadron of cuirassiers, the President drove yesterday to the Chamber through streets and boulevards thronged with happy, cheering people. It was indeed a wonderful sight. Wilson was pleased and touched, and he showed it. All Paris was at his feet. In his address to the deputies he departed quite a little from the text of the discourse he had proposed to make. He said: “America is paying her debt of gratitude to France in sending her sons to defend…
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