At Paris this characteristic, which had often been the subject of remark in Washington, was more pronounced, or at least more noticeable.

He was not disposed to discuss matters with the American Commission as a whole or even to announce to them his decisions unless something arose which compelled him to do so.

He easily fell into the practice of seeing men separately and of keeping secret the knowledge acquired as well as the effect of this knowledge on his views and purposes.

To him this was the normal and most satisfactory method of doing business.
From the time that the President arrived in Paris up to the time that the Commission on the League of Nations made its report--that is, from December 14, 1918, to February 14, 1919--the negotiations regarding the League were conducted with great secrecy.

Colonel House, the President's collaborator in drafting the Covenant, if he was not, as many believed, the real author, was the only American with whom Mr.Wilson freely conferred and to whom he confided the progress that he was making in his interviews with the foreign statesmen, at many of which interviews the Colonel was present.