The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-23
The Announcement Is Made
Today by Government.
PRESIDENT IN final TALKS
Winds Up Preliminaries to
Peace Meet This Week.
Before He Goes to London, Day
After Christmas.

Wilson will oppose in the most direct
fashion proposals from any source to
sink the warships surrendered by Ger
many under the terms of the armi-
stice.
Officials have professed to know
nothing about the attitude OF the
president until today, when it was
learned that he, viewed the plan as
altogether undesirable.
Decorate for Wilson.
London, Dec. 23-The first organ
lied scheme of street decoration in
London since the beginning of the war
Is being arranged for President Will
sons visit. It is understood it has
! been decided that the entire route
from the railway station to Bucking
ham palace shall be elaborately and
Systematically decked with standards
linked by streamers. Some of the
poles for this purpose have already
been erected near the palace.
The Stars and Stripes will be pre-
dominant feature of the decorations
and the flags of the allies also will be
used. The department of public works
along the route to apply to the depart
ment for the loan of bunting. The
decorations of the city of London for
the presidents visit of Saturday will
likewise be upon a splendid scale.
| Government departments today
| were perfecting preparations for the
presidents entertainment. There was
likewise considerable activity at Buck
lngham palace. President Wilson is
not only the first head of a republic
to make a stay at the palace, but the
1 first as guest of honor to be accom-
president has no official status, the
court has a problem in etiquette to de-
eide regarding Mrs. Wilson.
I Charfng Cross station, where the
president will enter London. will be
gaily decorated. The guards will fur
| at Buckingham palace the kings
guard and the Welsh guards will await
| the presidents coming. These troops
will mount a guard in the quadrangle
| in front of the palace thruout the
presidents stay. On ceremonial oc-
casions his carriage Will be followed
by the sovereign's escort of household
| cavalry.
| When President and Mrs Wilson ar
| rive at Manchester Sunday evening
! after their visit to Carlisle, they will,
be conducted to the town hall, remain
and lady mayoress. Secretary of State
F, Lansing and Colonel House are ex-
pected to accompany him.
l If time permits President Wilson
on Monday, will be taken thru the
i principal streets of Manchester, re-
turning to the town hrll at noon to re-
ceive the freedom of the city. After
wards,it is planned tt. give a luncheon
in the presidents honor.
Conference on Today.
| (By the Associated Press:)
Paris, Dec. 23.-President Wilson'S
conferences today and tomorrow vir-
tually complete the preliminaries he is
expected to dispose of before going to
, England. They probably will lay the
principal part of the ground work fol-
the actual peace conference.
Mr. Wilson considers the most
Kissing of all problems before the
entente nations in a fair way toward
being solved. This is the question OF
supplying food to the starving peoples
of liberated countries. 1t now seem.
probable that the work will bt
handled principally by the United
States thru Herbert C. Hoover, Amer.
| ican food administrator 1t has beer
i made plain to the entente nations tha
the United States has no wish to claim
entire credit for the work of relief
In the minds of the people who are tt
be fed and a satisfactory understand
Ing appears to be in sight.
Mr.. Hoover was to confer with the
president again today. Participation
by the United States in various coun
ellis that have been handling foot
questions. matters of shipping md tn,
like is being gradually wound up. a.
American officials are trending to
ward the opinion that these are proper
subjects for the consideration of 6
league of nations or at least of pre-
liminary organization which may pre-
cede it. Some of those who hav,
been giving the subject close stud,
and have been following the confer
ences with entente Representatives sa,
, they would not be surprised if tn,
real foundation of league of nation
were be lain in cooperative arrange
r ments between the United States an,
the allies for handling these funda
mental questions.
Mr. Wilson's address at Sorbonn
> on Saturday, in which he again de
fined his conception of a league o
nations attracted closest attention
| from all public men. This is espe
cially true of his statement that tn
war could never have occurred il tn
, central powers had discussed it for
fortnight and certainly not if they ha
: been forced to talk matters over 70
more than a year.
Talk for a Year
The presidents address had re
called that the United States Will
William Jennings Bryan was secretar
of state negotiated a dozen arbitra
tion treaties. one of them with Grea
Britain. These treaties bound thei
signatories to discuss their contro yer
sizes for at least a year before pro
: ceeding to declaration of war A
Il attempt was made to negotiate such
treaty with Germany, but the Berli
government refused to entertain i
!. 1t is als) recalled the same idea wa
once expressed in a plan for presery
ing peace put forward by q grou
p headed by Viscount James Bryc,
, former British amba ssador to tn
4 United States There is no officis
. artnorify for the statement that NJ
!. Wilson is thinking of the Bryan pla
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