Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-17
British Foreign Minister
Welcomed Peace Plenipo-
tentiaries in Palace Of St.
James This Morning.
ACCORDED HONOR
BY EMISSAR1ES
Sir Edward Grey Unanl-
mously Named Honorary
President; "Peace or War
This week"

London, Dec. 10 The peace ueie
rates of Servia, Montenegro ano
Greece assembled today in the picture
gallery of St. James palace to meet the
Turkish delegates in the momentous
conference which Is to settle the ques
ton whether there is to be peace or q
continuation of the war in the balkans
The plenipotentiaries were welcomed
by Sir Edward Grey, the British LOT.
eign minister. His address was orle1
but full Of sympathy and good wlsnes
for the success of the gathering.
ellis majesty, the king, desires me
ia convey to you his welcome and to
express his best wishes for the sue
cess of your labors," said Sir Edward
s.It ia nv agreeable duty to welcome
YOU on behalf of his majesty's govern
ment and say with what pleasure your
presence is regarded In this country,
His majesty, the king, being anxious
to facilitate your task In every way
has placed these rooms in st. James
palace at your disposal. l trust you
will find them suitable and at the
same time assure you that MS
matesty's government will do all IN
It's power to promote your conventions.
There are difficulties in all nego.
stiations for peace after q war. ! VIII
nat attempt to estimate what they
nav be in your case. There have been
no doubtful instructions to each set
az delegates from their, respective gov
ernments, but there can be no nobler
task than to overcome these diff
culties and to accomplish peace as a
result of your own efforts and your
own work.
...The losses of war can be repaired
and bitterness merged in the real1za-
tion OF the blessings of peace.
Grey Given Honor Post.
The chief Of each delegation cordial
" acknowledged the welcome and the
sentiments expressed by Sir Edward
Grew. who was unanimously elected to
the honorary presidency of the con-
ference.
The British foreign secretary then
left the gallery and the plenipoten-
tiaries set about the task OF arranging
the question of the chairmanship, the
procedure, the language, ETC., OF the
conference.
Considering its historic character
the conclave attracted remarkably ut
tie public attention. some nunureus OIL
reporters and photographers and few
Of the general public gathered in the
vicinity Of ST. James palace. Other
wise nothing beyond the extra squads
OF policemen indicated anything out
of the common.
d Rigorous precautions have been
taken to prevent the near approach OF
strangers to the j. entrance OF the
palace. A strong force of police has
been stationed about the ancient arch
wav and will remain on duty during
the conference.
The negotiations sat for only an hour
and a half and then adjourned Tor
lunch, which was served in room ad-
1oining the conference chamber.
Peace This Week or War
The delegates of the Balkans before
entering the conference chamber de-
clared that within this week either
Turkey will find a way to surrender
Adrianople or the war will be resumed.
They believe that Turkey will yield
unless she is impelled to resistance by
Austrian and German support.