IMPRESSIONS OF PRESIDENT WILSON.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1919, Page 10

IMPRESSIONS OF PRESIDENT WILSON.

2\ T O ; »O£JR-FACED COVENANTEE SMILES IBS WAY THROUGH JliANCii. London Jan. 1. The correspondent of the Times at 'Paris savs:—President Wilson honored the Times hist Friday by receiving me, and outlining his attitude towards the whole vast series of problems which come up for discussion next month. "This decision to grant me an interview, like the abandonment of the precedent in visiting Europe during the term of his Presidency, shows that Dr. Wilson is no slave to tradition.

"He is willing tn confine his downright frankness not only to the channels of diplomacy, Ibut to use the Democratic megaphone press in addressing the people whose fate he will assist in moulding.

"A charming residence in Rue Monceau has been placed at his disposal by Prince Murat. The outside of the building is perpetually thronged with curious crowds, but the secret service men procured admission for my car to the outer courtyard, where American sentries guard the inner entrance. "I was conducted to the first floor, where a door opened, and President Wilson emerged. He came straight to me without a formal introduction, and welcomed me, and conducted me to the room where he works. This is a large,, lofty apartment, adorned with admirable works of art, and lighted by a wellshaded electric lamp, standing on the writing table. "I will perhaps be excused for my lack of politeness in scrutinising closely the man who will play such an important part in the history of the next few months.

"Wilson is not the lean, long-faced cadaverous-looking man of the photographs, but he has a tall, well-set-up athletic figure. "It is difficult to guess his approximate age, but one would immediately recognise this man in the grey lounge suit cut into his body as a gentleman in the ibest sense of the words, as an American, and, in some mysterious way, as somebody. "His features are those of a man seeking to combine body and spirit to the best advantage. 1 THE DEVASTATING SMILE. "President Wilson was surprised and touched by the warmth of his welcome in France, but was even more surprised by the devastating effect of his smile. '"He was amazed to find that people imagined him as some curious kind of dour-faccd Covenanter, unable to taste or enjoy life or humor. He jokingly remarked that, despite his somewhat Lowland Scottish-Irish ancestry, he tjas something of the Celt's imagination and sense of fun.

"It was then that I saw his famous smile. The eyes and forehead remain serious, but the mouth expresses every kind of gaiety. "When the conversation toucued the great questions of peace the smile remained in abeyance. The lower half of his face became switched off, and President Wilson erpressed his feelings mainly by the eye, his deep and penetrating glance when weighing his words and reflecting, contracting curiously with its humorous and human twinkle in his lighter moods. "The President impressed me, 'above all, as a man regarding himself as an ordinary human being, who by his personality and the wishes of the American people has been called to the highest office. He is fully conscious of his tremendous responsibility. "At the outset he drew an interesting contrast between the Congress of Vienna, which was responsible for much evil in the world, and the Versailles Congress which hopes to right old wrongs permanently. "The Vienna Congress, he said, was a Congress of bosses concerned with the interests of other classes. The Versail-

les Conference must be a meeting of the servants of the peoples, represented by the delegates.

NATIONS AS COMRADES. "He added, There is -no master mind able to settle the problem of to-day. If there is anybody who thinks be knows what is in the minds of all the peoples that man is a fool. "We have all got to put our heads together, and pool everything we have got for the benefit of the ideals common to us all.' "Replying to the question that some people weTe 'wondering why ho had come to France, lie replied, 'To me the answer is obvious. The issues to be determined at the forthcoming conference are of such overwhelming importance tliat the United States cannot refuse to share wjtli the Allies their great responsibility to civilisation. "It is only by the frankest personal counsel with the Allied statemen, that I can assist in some measure the solution of these problems.' "These words in some measure express President Wilson's real desire to help in laying the foundations of the Society of Nations, and in safeguarding the future peace of the world. "Replying to a question regarding the conference's great purpose and goal, Dr. Wilson expressed the opinion that the plain man in the street could answer the question as well as he. "The plain people of all nations were looking with aniious expectations at Versailles, and asking themselves whether there would be enough wisdom and purpose among the assembled statement to prevent future wars. "Dr. Wilson added that the difficulties and responsibilities, some of which were most urgent and pressing, must be shared by the great nations of the world as comrades of the less powerful. THE SILENT BRITISH FLEET. "The President said that besides conferring with Allied statesmen, lie hoped to visit the Allied countries in the immediate future and learn their general sentiments regarding the chief problems of the day. "He also hoped to visit the Grand Fleet. This would give him great pleasure, lheca.use lie realised that behind the armies throughout was the strong, silent and watchful support of the British Navy, securing their communications.

"There had been the happiest comradeship and co-operation between the British and American navies, and he was sure that all Americans knew of its full significance in relation to victory. "Speaking of the freedom of the seas, Dr. Wilson spoke with a sincerity impossible to convey. "1 am glad/ he said, 'that 1 shall visit England shortly, because I have reason to know the unanimity of pas- | sionaie conraetionamong the people of

"America has entertained the same conception of liberty and justice, and it! is essential for the future peace of the world that there should he the frankest possible co-operation and the mo9t gen.erous understanding between the two -Bug!iah speaking democracies. "'We comprehend and appreciate the <rrave problems which the war has trouglit the British people, and we fully understand the special international questions arising from your peculiar jositiou as an island Empire.'" Dr. "Wilson freely discussed the outstanding features of the problem, and concluded that lie was convinced that nothing could possibly prevent the conference from producing a really solid guarantee for peace in the future.