The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1918-11-21
PRESIDENT WILSON
TO CO TO EUROPE
viii Sail Early in December to At
tend Opening OF Peace Confer
ence--WiIl Define Attitude
of United States

Washington, Nov. President
Wilson announced today he would
sail for France early in December to
attend the opening session of the
peace conference and participate in
the formulation of the principal
features Of the treaty of peace.
He win be absent from the United
States several weeks, and, return
ing to Washington after an agree
ment is reached with the Allies on
the paramount questions arising
from the defeat Of Germany, will
leave the American delegates to the
peace conference to settle the details
with the delegates representing the
other belligerents.
Made Formal Announcement
The formal announcement Of the
Presidents decision to attend the
peace conference was made in the
following official statement by the
White House:
"The President expects to sail for
France Immediately after opening of
the regular session Of Congress, for
the purpose of taking part in the dis
cussion and settlement of the main
features of the treaty of peace. 1t is
not likely that it will be possible for
him to remain throughout the ses-
sious of the formal peace conference,
but his presence at the outset is nee
essary in order to obviate the mani
fest disadvantages Of discussion by
cable in determining the greater out
lines of the final treaty about which
he must necessarily be consulted.
He will, of course, be accompanied by
delegates who will sit as the repre-
sentatives of the United States
throughout the conference.
"The names of the delegates will
be presently announced"
To Announce U. S. Policy
The President will be with and yet
apart from, the American peace del
egation. He will define the attitude
of the United States in dealing with
the major questions to come before
the conference and will lay down the
policy to be pursued by the American
delegates. The majority Of the Amer
ican delegates will be men who will
insure the reflection of the Presi-
dents views in the votes cast by the
United States.
! Secretary of State Lansing will be
a member of the delegation and pre-
sumably its chairman, inasmuch as
the Allied ministers of foreign rela-
tions will head their delegations in
most cases. Mr.. Wilson hitherto has
employed Colonel House to deal with
the Allied governments abroad and
appointed him several months ago to
direct the work Of gathering the data
which will be required by the Ameri-
can delegation in the reconstruction
of world affairs. Whether Colonel
House will be member of the dele
cation, however, is not known.
Hughes and Root Mentioned
1t is reported tonight that Secreta-
of War Baker, Secretary of Agricul-
ture Houston and former Supreme
Court Justice Hughes win be named
delegates.
There is reason to believe former
Senator and Secretary of State Root
will be one of the Republican men,
bers of the commission. Others re-
garded possible selections are form
err President Taft, Senator and form
er Secretary of State KnoS, Senator
Walsh of Montana, Associate Justice
Brandeis of the Supreme Court, and
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation Of Labor.
The opening of the peace confer
ence deliberations is scheduled for the
middle of December, although it is
not expected the regular sessions of
the body will begin much before jan
nary