The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-21
Officials Report Difficulty in
Maintaining Original
Programme.
CHAFING AT ETIQUETTE
Lack of Acquaintance With
European Ways Cause of
Difficulties.
ny LAURENCE HILLS.
Stat Correspondent Of The suS.


PARIS. Dec. 20.-Trom all appear
ances President Wilson is finding Il in
creasingly difficult to carry out the
plans he made for himself before leav-
ing the United States. There is little
prospect OF his leaving Europe now
before February. February is men,
toned in official circles as the tenta-
tive date Of departure, but there Is
likelihood that 1t will be even later.
Tho maze of European politics In
which President Wilson finds himself
makes 1t necessary for him TO proceed
with tho utmost caution. The Presi-
dent wants 70 visit Great Britain,
Italy and Belgium. but Is anxious to
avoid the appearance OF being an itin-
Grant statesman. This evidently eN-
plains the announcement made here
authoritatively that any real confer
ences which the President may have
regarding the peace treaty would be
held in Paris only. II the President
visits any OF the countries which are
mentioned II will be only out OF cour-
tesy. Apparently British leaders are
making every effort to have him go
there at once. II II Is part Of their
plan to bring about conferences there
1t is apparently doomed TO fail.
Delays Surprise Americans.
American observers here are WON
dering at the delay which goes on in
spite OF the necessity OF the Presi-
dents returning to Washington In
! February. Naturally there Is a dis
| position to man9uvre with Wilson as
centre with the purpose, on the part
OF Europe, of avoiding getting down
to cases with the President. How
even his idea of the League of Ma
tons can be drawn up in n few
weeks from now is beyond the COM
! prehension even OF some of the Amer
lean diplomats here. as nothing like O
formula has been arrived at yet.
There is good reason to believe that
President Wilson is chatting at the de-
lays which are consequent upon Euro
pean etiquette. and the frequent
changes made in plans at other con-
ferences. President Wilson's plan OF
proceeding quickly to business Is IN
doubtedly based on his lack of ac-
quaintance with European ways.
Admit Little Has Been Done.
Members of the American mission
feel satisfied with what is going on,
but admit that little has been accom-
| plished. BY the request OF the Presi-
| dent himself the commission has be-
gun daily interviews With the Amer
lean correspondents for the purpose
OF keeping the people at home in
formed as to what Is going on. The
meetings are confidential in the sense
that ell foreign correspondents are
barred. The President plainly desires
| to have the processes OF peace" as
far as America is concerned, as open
| as possible. but that really means but
little
British comment here seems TO be
quite favorable to President Wilson.
Indeed In British circles there IL more
fear apparently OF Italy's growing as
pirations than there is OF any collision
with America on the President's
points. Italy is plainly giving the
British great uneasiness on account OF
her territorial desires and her failure
to take steps toward rehabilitation.
The British apparently are looking
toward President Wilson to curb some
OF 1tay's pretentlons. An interview
between Premier Orlando and Presi-
dent Wilson Is consequently awaited
with great interest on account of the
report that Italy will try to enlist the
support OF the United States.