Woodrow Wilson as I Know Him Part 48

_Third_--The underlying reason for French pact emphasizing the point as Simonds' says _Quote_ That French pact is merely an underwriting of the League of Nations during the period necessary for that organization not merely to get to work, but to become established and recognized by all nations _End quote_.

I am not at all disturbed by this reaction--it was inevitable. The consummation of your work in the signing of the Treaty will clear the air of all these distempers. Your arrival in America, your address to the Congress and some speeches to the country will make those who oppose the League to-day feel ashamed of themselves. The New York _World_ had a very good editorial favouring the mandatory of Turkey.

TUMULTY.

_Cablegram--Paris._

Received at White House, Was.h.i.+ngton, June 16, 1919.

TUMULTY, White House, Was.h.i.+ngton.

If Germans sign the Treaty we hope to get off the first of next week, about the 24th or 25th. It is my present judgment that it would be a mistake to take any notice of the Knox amendment. The whole matter will have to be argued from top to bottom when I get home and everything will depend upon the reaction of public opinion at that time. I think that our friends can take care of it in the meantime and believe that one of the objects of Knox and his a.s.sociates is to stir me up, which they have not yet done. I may nevertheless take the opportunity to speak of the League of Nations in Belgium.

WOODROW WILSON.

_Cablegram_

The White House, Was.h.i.+ngton, 21 June, 1919.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris.

The fight against the League in Knox resolution faces utter collapse. Root and Hayes here advising Republican leaders. I learned that Root is advising Republicans to vote for the League with reservations. He is advising Republicans to concentrate their forces upon a resolution of ratification, which would contain specific reservations on the Monroe Doctrine, immigration, tariff, and other purely American questions. I believe that this is the course the Republicans will finally adopt. A confidant of Mr. Taft's yesterday wanted to know from me what your att.i.tude was in this matter, saying that Mr. Taft might favour this reservation plan. I told him I had no knowledge on the subject. It is a thing that you might consider. To me it looks like cowardice.

The American Federation of Labour adopted a resolution favouring the League of Nations by a vote of twenty-nine thousand seven hundred fifty against four hundred twenty. Andrew Furuseth led the fight against it. The resolution supporting the League contained a reservation in favour of home rule for Ireland.

TUMULTY.

_Cablegram--Paris._

Received at White House, Was.h.i.+ngton, June 23, 1919.

TUMULTY, Was.h.i.+ngton.

My clear conviction is that the adoption of the Treaty by the Senate with reservations would put the United States as clearly out of the concert of nations as a rejection. We ought either to go in or stay out. To stay out would be fatal to the influence and even to the commercial prospects of the United States, and to go in would give her the leaders.h.i.+p of the world. Reservations would either mean nothing or postpone the conclusion of peace, so far as America is concerned, until every other princ.i.p.al nation concerned in the Treaty had found out by negotiation what the reservations practically meant and whether they could a.s.sociate themselves with the United States on the terms of the reservations or not. Moreover, changes in the Treaty seem to me to belong to the powers of negotiation which belong to the President and that I would be at liberty to withdraw the Treaty if I did not approve of the ratifications. I do not think it would be wise for me to wait here for the appropriation bills. I hope to sail on the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth and suggest that you consider the plan of sending a vessel to meet me.

WOODROW WILSON.

_Cablegram_

The White House, Was.h.i.+ngton, June 23, 1919.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris.

Your cable concerning reservations in ratification would make fine statement for the public. The country would stand back of you in this. Can I use it in this way or can I at least furnish copies to Senator Hitchc.o.c.k and Mr. Taft? If you allow me to make public use of it may I change _Quote_ leaders.h.i.+p of the world _End Quote_ to _Quote_ a notable place in the affairs of the world _End Quote_. This in order to avoid possibility of hurting feelings of other nations. Now is time to issue statement of this kind as Lodge has practically withdrawn Knox resolution and opponents seem to be concentrating on _Quote_ reservations _End Quote_.

TUMULTY.

_Cablegram--Paris._

TUMULTY, White House, Was.h.i.+ngton.

June 25, 1919.

I am quite willing that you should make public use of my cable to you about reservations by the Senate in regard to the treaty, with this change in the sentence to which you call my attention:

_Quote_ And to go in would give her a leading place in the affairs of the world, _End Quote_ omitting also the last sentence about changes belonging to power to negotiate treaties.

WOODROW WILSON.

June 25, 1919.

Secretary Tumulty to-day gave out a message which he had received from the President, as follows:

My clear conviction is that the adoption of the Treaty by the Senate with reservations would put the United States as clearly out of the concert of nations as a rejection. We ought either to go in or stay out. To stay out would be fatal to the influence and even to the commercial prospects of the United States, and to go in would give her a leading place in the affairs of the world. Reservations would either mean nothing or postpone the conclusion of peace, so far as America is concerned, until every other princ.i.p.al nation concerned in the treaty had found out by negotiation what the reservations practically meant and whether they could a.s.sociate themselves with the United States on the terms of the reservations or not.

WOODROW WILSON.

_Cablegram from Grasty to New York_ Times

June 29, 1919.

Aboard the _Oklahoma_.

President's sailing from Brest most auspicious. Most beautiful weather and promise of more of same. President and Mrs. Wilson showed no ill effects from strenuous activities of past few days and while both formed sincere attachment for France, they are glad to turn faces homeward. Contrary to some reports current in America he is in excellent health. While element of novelty which entered his reception on arrival last December disappeared, there was deeper feeling manifested toward him last night in Paris than ever before. Thousands of _Quote_ Vive Wilson _End Quote_ came from French heart and continuous ovation. Paris showed popular recognition of leaders.h.i.+p of American in securing peace. One very old Frenchman sprang in front of President's carriage in Champs elysees and shouted in English: _Quote_ Mr. Wilson, thank you for peace _End Quote_. That was the keynote and same sentiment was echoed in thousands of ways. Although owing to different American viewpoints, Wilson has been frequently antagonistic during this month, at end relations with other governments' heads most cordial. Lloyd George came over to Place des etats-Unis last night and told President _Quote_ You've done more to bring English-speaking people together than ever before done by any man _End Quote_. Clemenceau looked as if losing his best friend when he said Good Bye in Invalides Station.

Many representatives of smaller nations have expressed to me within past few days hope that President be able to return to Europe and continue his work of reconciliation and reconstruction, which they said n.o.body else in position to do or able to do so well.

GRASTY.

APPENDIX "B"

_Cablegram_