The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1918-12-12
BY EDWARD w. PIckARp.

Unless the unexpected happens
which seems to be the rule rather than
the exception neutrality-suspicious.
Wilson will sail for the peace confer
ence In Paris Tuesday on the George
Washington Immediately after deliv-
ering his message to congress. which
reassembles Monday, Friday night Pres
ident Wilson announced the appoint
ment of the peace commission. lie
names himself as member and will
act as chairman during his stay Of six
weeks or more In Paris. Returning he
will be replaced by Secretary OF War
Baker; Secretary Of State Lansing will
succeed him as chairman. Other mem
bers Of the commission are: Col. Ed
ward M. House. the presidents chief
confldant; Henry White. formerly am
bassador to Italy and France; Gen.
Tasker ii. Bliss, American military ad-
wiser of the supreme war council.
Those who criticize the president for
going must admit that his temptation
is great. Setting aside the fact that
he may feel II his duty to attend, IL
In the literal truth that such meet.
ing Of sovereigns. presidents. premiers,
chancellors and high dignitaries of the
nations of the earth the worlr has new
er seen. 1t Is likely to be preceded by n
grand review of designated units OF
the victorious armies and fleets. 1t
will certainly be preceded by consul.
tations of the heads of many nations.
: An IN tho nnpfarnnpn itcnlf ~ has M
parallel In history. And among these
great ones of the earth, who will he
more prominent than Woodrow VIII
son. president OF the United States Of
America, both by reason of his own
activities In the world struggle and Of
the unique position Of his country?
Moreover. Mr.. Wilson will have an
opportunity to be modern Solomon
to the many applicants for his per-
sonal aid. These appeals have come
to him from victor and vanqulshed,
from new nations and old, from the in
dependent and from those seeking in
Experimentation Turkey. Luxem.
burg. Austria, Germany, Russia, Ire
land. Poland. Roumania; from the
Jugo-Slavs and the Czecho-Slovaks
Turkey asks for United States admin.
tstration Of finances, etc; Luxembourg
sor protection as small independent
state; Austria for occupation by
American troops to prevent civil wal
among newly formed nations, and sc
IN. Each request presents different
problem.
On the other hand, the pence con
ference faces the tremendous problem
Of reconstructlng world, Thrown
without warning into the creates
armed struggle OF all time, the nations
emerge from the bloody conflict I,
find that 1t Is not only the lands tina
have been trampled under foot tina
must be reconstructed, but that tn
whole structure of modern Civilization
has been shaken. Ancient institution
and time-honOred traditions are over
thrown. Mankind finds itself anon
civic and economic ruins. II will b
too much to expect OF human natur
TO count on this peace conference b.
Ing entirely peaceful. 1t Is more lik,
ly to be a rough-and-tumble affair.
There are many possibilities OF tro,
BILE. Suppose our allies point out ths
Americas traditional policy has bee
one of detachment from European a
fairs and that for two years and a In
she observed neutrality and then SUI
gest that rhe return to her detachmer
and allow the nations most intimatel
concerned to arrange settlemen
Suppose the fundamental principles ,
Justice and right. given world-wit
publicity as the things for while
America was lighting and unofficial