The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-04
Personnel As Announced Con-
tanned Only One Surprise,
Gen. Bliss Being Added AS a
Full Delegate.

sence OF any official explanation, 1t
was assumed, that the president goes
as the president OF the United States
and that Secretary Lansing, Mr.. White
and Colonel House and probably also
General Bliss will be delegates with
ambassadorial rank.
1t was recalled that the president
s announcement that he would go to
France for the purpose Of taking
part ia the discussion and settlement
of the: main features Of the treaty OF
peace said that it was not likely that
ne conld remain throughout the ses-
sions of the peace conference and
that he would be accompanied by
delegates who will sit as the represen-
falives of the United States through
our the conference .
The White House announcement to-
night follows.
at was announced at the executive
Offices tonight that the representa-
tiyes OF the United States at the peace
conference would be:
The president himself, the secre-
tary of, state, the Hon. Henry White,
recently ambassador to France; Mr..
Edward M. House and Gen. Tasker H.
Bliss.
ss l.eIt was explained that it had not
been possible to announce the ap-
pointments before because the num-
ber Of representatives each of the
chief beNigerents was to send had
until day or two ago been under
discussion, 2
.WhItes House officials would add
nothing to the formal statement, and
no one processing to be in the conf
dence of the president would talk
There was only one surprise in the
statenent-the appearance of the
Harae of Gen. Bliss as one OF the rep
resentatives. It had been taken for
granted that the general. military
representative of the United States on
the supreme war council, would take
part in the discussions at Versailles,
but the prevailing idea had been he
would be attached to the delegation
ia military capacity just as Admiral
Benson probably will be present as
spokesman for the navy in the great
naval problems to be solved.
Only yesterday callers at the White
House gained the distinct impression
that there would be but three ac-
credited delegates of full rank. It was
suggested tonight that the name Of
Gen. f:llss probably was added at
the last moment upon receipt Of in
formation that the allied powers
would include a military man among
Their renreSenta fiyeS
The premiers Of Great Britain,
tend the peace conference as repre-
sentatives of their governments but,
like the president may not remain
throughout the conferences. The gen
efal understanding here is that pres
ent plans are to have the conference
first agree to the broad principles OF
the treaty and leave the working out
OF details to further sittings.
This would enable the president and
the. entente premiers speedily to re-
turn to the capitals Of their respec-
tive countries SO as to give their per-
sonal attention to affairs Of state.
Secretary Lansing who heads the
delegation proper, became secretary
of state in June, 1915, when William
]. Bryan resigned rather than sign a
note to Germany in the Lusitania
case which he thought might lead to
war. During the three and half
years that have followed Mr.. Lansing
has conducted many difficult negotia-
tons for the country as neutral and
as a belligerent and his name appears
49, tx 4 al
the story Of Americas entry into the
war as we'll as those answering Ger
many's peace pleas which preceded
the downfall of the central alliance.
At the time of his appointment he
was counsellor of the state depart
ment, after a career as an Internal
ional lawyer which had established
his reputation as one of the foremost
American authorities on this subject.
Mr.. White, the Republican Of the
delegation, is a diplomat OF long eX-
perience, who began as secretary Of
the American legation in Vienna in
1884. He served as secretary Of en-
bassy at various capitals, represented
the United States at several great
international gatherings and in 1905
was appointed; ambassador 20 Italy
by President Roosevelt Two years Ia
ter he was made ambassador to France
where he remained until 1909. His
last public service was in 1910 when
President Taft sent him to Chile as
special ambassador of the United
States for the celebration Of the CEN
tenary of Chilean independence.
Colonel House has never held pub
lie Office, but as President Wilson's
personal friend and adviser he is
credited generally as having played
a greater part in the present admin
istration than any other man except
the president himself. He has been
called into consultation at every cri-
sis. and after going to Europe in 1914,
1915 and 1915 as the presidents per-
sonal representative to European gov