Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-11


and fire stations.
converted to the. manufacture Of
staple commodities, and arrange
ment made for the return to civil
life and employment of the mil
lions of soldiers lately enga ged in
war.
Expect Private Conference.
To insure a continuation OF the
harmony which has characterized
all of the diplomatic and military
relations of the entente powers and
America and to present a united
front in the peace conference
against their late enemies, it is
expected that the delegates of
these countries will get together
first in private conferences, to
frame their own program before
any effort is made to assemble a
formal peace conference.
Delegates from the central pow
ers will join the gathering when it
comes under sevevre restrictions.
Their governments already have
soIemnly engaged to be bound by
er conditions laid down by Presi-
dent Wilson, and their activities
probably must be limited to efforts
to induce the other delegates TO
accept Germanic construction of
the exact meaning of these terms.
Couched as they were in general
language there is opportunity for
genuine differences of opinion as
to some of the details.
Allies Will Prevails.
But one fact must be borne in
mind. In case of any real issue
between the delegation decisions of
the delegates of the allies and
America must prevail The repre-
sentatives of the defeated powers
may plead and argue. but they
must submit for the simple reason
the people for whom they speak are
deprived of any military or naval
resources with which TO renew the
war or to offer any physical re-
sistance.
The coming great peace confer
ence will surpass any in history:
not only because of the tremen-
dous Importance OF the issues with
which it must deal, but also lit
orally in size. Indications are that
the United States government Will
be represented by at least half i
dozen principals. with numerous
body of secretaries. counsellors,
translators, and clerks, and it is
assumed that even the smallest of
the nations which will participate
will seek to make a show IN point
of number of delegates.
Every Element Represented.
This fact may involve the trans
action of most OF the business OF
the conference by selected commit
tees which will represent IN their
composition every element and
whose reports will come before the
full conference for ratification
AS to the place of meeting there
is vet much doubt. with many
claimants for that honor. While
it has been urged that the confer
ence gather in some historic spot
in France, objection may lie against
that proposition based on the gen
orally accepted view that such
meetings should be held at point
where they can be quite Tree from
the charge of any local influence;
in other words ii should be on
neutral territory and even some OF
that territory is regarded as un-
suitable because of the pronounced
sympathy Of the population with
one side or the other.
Switzerland Favored.
Little Switzerland is believed to
be a strong favorite and there has
been some mention Of the beautl-
full town of Lausanne as an ldeal
meeting place, gone report Dein
that American agents have quietly
obtained hotel and other accommo-
dations for the United States dele-
gates at that place. But nothing
is definitely known Of the location
OF thA maaEtR& plaCA.