COL. HOUSE DISCUSSES BRITISH CELEBRITIES

Shannon News, 14 May 1926, Page 4

COL. HOUSE DISCUSSES BRITISH CELEBRITIES

COMJfi-ilMliiiVrS LiLiUYD ' G'UOltttJU. KING WORTHY OF BETTER PATE THAN BEING KING. New and illuminating perspectives of men and affairs, throughout the period of the Great War, are afforded by "The Intimate Papers of Col. House," Professor Charles Seymour, of. Yale University (Benn, 2 vols.) Col. House was the "Silent Partner" of President Wilson during-those' critical years,' and the aKiser himself is reputed to have said of. him: "The visit "of Colonel House to Berlin and London in the spring 01 1914 almost prevented the World War.' ' President Wilson's deep friendship for Colonel House makes an inspiring part of the narrative. Recording his talks with Wilson just before his mission to Europe early in 1915, Colonel House says: . He approved all 1 had in mind lo say to Sir Edward (Grey) ana to the Germans. Pie said: "There • is not much for us to talk over, lor the reason wo are both of the same mind, but it is not necessary to go into details with you." 1 asked him if ho remembered the first day we met, some three ana a half years ago. He replied: "I'es, but we had known one another always, and merely came in touch then t for our purposes and thoughts were as one." Pan-American. Plan.

Another interesting glimpse of the iv.o ia afforded by th e Pan-American plan for binding the United ' States and South American Republics, rormulated in December, 1914,. but reluctantly dropped when the United States came into the war. Says Col. House: 1 then explained . . . there was one thing he could do at once, and that was to. inaugurate, a policy that would weld the Western Hemisphere together, it was my idea to formulate a plan . . . which in itself would serve as a model of the European nations when peace is at last brought about. I could see that this excited his enthusiasm. . .1 suggested that he take a pencil and write the points to be covered. He took a pencil and wrote. He then went to his little typewriter and made a copy . . . and handed It to me to use with th e three South American Ambassadors. When the German submarine negotiations had broken down and American intervention was inevitable, Colonel House records in these words his decision to return to America: i I said it was my purpose to persuade the President not to conduct a milk-and-water war, but to put all the strength, ail the virility and all the energy of our nation into it, so that Europe might remember for a century what it meant to provoke a peaceful nation into war. Pictures ol' the Great.

Following are some of Colonel House's judgments on leading figures in the European drama: The King: Th e more I see of the King, the better I like him. He is a gooti fellow and deserves a better l'ate than being a King. Mr Lloyd George: He reminds me more of the .virile aggressive type of American politician than any member of the. Cabinet. . . He has something dynamic within him. The Earl of Balfour;. I am. inclined to rank him along with the President and Mr Asquith in intellectuality, and .this, to my mind, places him at the summit. Viscount Grey: He (House) found in Sir Edward a philosopher, like himself, careless of /onventional honours, with no apparent sense of his own importance, driven, over-hard, perhaps, by what he felt to be his duty, and taking no credit therefor. As statesman he approached House's ideal, supremely distinguished as he was by sincerity of purpose and honesty of method; above all, a diplomat who did not regard diplomacy as a mysterious intrigue, but rather as a means by which the representatives of the different States could discuss frankly . . national interests, and reach a peaceable understanding.— Professor Seymour. Lord Kitchener: Kitchener is not the greatest intellect with which I have come into touch, but he has a manner indicating great reserve force, and if I were going tiger-hunting I would gladly have him for a companion.