Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-19
Wilson, Studying Peace
Views Is in No Hurry
I, for Conference
MAY .PROLONG HIS STAY
Likely to Remain Abroad Till
! February-No Itinerary
Formed Yet
BY RICHARD V. OULAHAN
Special Gable to, ,Euening, Public Ledger

COPYRIGHT, 1918. By Netc York Times Co.
3,S Paris, Dec. 10.
have talked with "A considerable
j humber of prominent persons and
< through this and other means l have
i obtained an idea of the general stu
s Rtion involved in the making of peace.
President Wilson yesterday afternoon
had his first conference with the other
{ American penipotentiaries since MS
arrival in Paris.
g The President has taken his own
time and ways of getting at what he
1 desires to know, the better to prepare
him for dealing with the representa-
tives of the Allied governments.
Despite the undercurrent OF crit.
cism over the delays in inaugurating
( active changes - criticism that is
aimed at various European statesmen
lit is becoming evident President Will
son is quite as willing as others to
postpone the inter-allied gathering un-
Y til he gets his bearings and builds a
mental foundation on which the Amer
lean position will rest.
w 1t may now be said that the Pres.
ident intends to prolong his stay i'll
Europe beyond the period which was
I. tentatively in his mind when he Ie1t
America. Then he contemplated ar
irving home about the middle of Jan
uary. Now he thinks. he will remain
in Europe until early February.
The President has arranged no itin-
erary for his travels in Allied Cour-
tries, and has not determined whether
he will go to italy. A decision in this
J connection may be reached after con-
sultation with the King of Italy, who
arrives in Paris today,
. Finds More Time Needed
This intended prolongation OF the
/ Presidents stay carries some signifi
canoe. 1t is apparent that he finds
1t necessary to devote more time than
he originally estimated for the pur-
pose of comforting with his fellow
plenipotentiaries and those who, like
I Colonel House, Mr.. Hoover and Mr..
Hurley, have had an opportunity 10
Z study the situation prior to the Pres
!. dents arrival.
The Presidents decision to remain
longer than he expected tends to con.
firm the understanding obtained from
his confidants that he is not bound
to an infiexible program of peace set
!, tlement, but desires to get the point
Qf-yiew of the other nations involved
!. .hefore fully determining the course
gsofs the American commission.
He has in mind certain principles
\ which are, however, subject to change
H IL the conditions or new information
appear to justify.
see Thus he is credited with not being
accord with any proposals for
taking from Germany everything pos.
i sible in the way of indemnity without
regard to the condition in which it
leaves the German people.
and Premier Not Far Apart
L At the same time the persons who
are in position to know the sentiment
of the American delegation express
confidence that Wilson and LLOYD
George are mot far apart in their
Y views as to what extent material dam.
ages shall be assessed against Ger.
many.
M 1t seems clear that the American
plenipctentiaries- are, .dlsinclined to
agree to an arrangement which cur.
tails American freedom of action in
constructing naval vessels. Present
sentiment appears to be that although
willing to have the maximum naval
building programs of the powers fixed
4 nothing should be construed to pre-
4 vent the United States from construct
I ing as many warships as any other
government.
Already suggestions are being heard
in Paris that while the Allied con
ference is in progress neutrals should
e be asked to send plenipotentiaries
There to confer on the freedom of the
seas and the league of nations joir
Z any such agreements that may be
( embodied in the treaty with the cen
trail powers and repeated at separate
conventions neutrals would sign.