This rigidity of mind accounts in large measure for the deplorable, and, as it seemed to me, needless, conflict between the President and the Senate over the Treaty of Versailles.

It accounts for other incidents in his career which have materially weakened his influence and cast doubts on his wisdom.

It also accounts, in my opinion, for the President's failure to prepare or to adopt a programme at Paris or to commit himself to a draft of a treaty as a basis for the negotiations, which failure, I am convinced, not only prevented the signature of a short preliminary treaty of peace, but lost Mr.Wilson the leadership in the proceedings, as the statesmen of the other Great Powers outlined the Treaty negotiated and suggested the majority of the articles which were written into it.

It would have made a vast difference if the President had known definitely what he sought, but he apparently did not.

He dealt in generalities leaving, but not committing, to others their definition and application.