Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-26
Meeting Day Three Weeks Off

tions.
Meeting Day Three Weeks OFF.
PARIS, December 25 (by the Asso-
ciated Press).-More than three weeks
probably will elapse before the gen.
eral peace conference assemblies. 1t
is unlikely that any official statement
will be issued in the meantime con-
corning the number of governme nts
to be represented or the tests to be
applied to determine the right of ap-
plicants to participate.
Technical experts attached to the
delegations Of the principal powers
already have given much study to
this subject. If negotiations to reach
an agreement in this point have not
been undertaken already it is certain
they will be Immediately after Presi-
dent Wilson's return from London.
Notwithstanding the indisposition
business into Mr.. Wilson's visit, it is
possible that in his conferences with
Premier Lloyd George and Foreign
Minister Balfour the foundation may
be laid for settlement of the ques-
ton of representation which Mr.. Will
son probably has discussed with
Premier Clemenceau.
Likened to o. S. Congress Opening.
Conditions which will confront the
peace conference when it opens will
not be unlike those marking the
opening of new Congress in the
United States or a national conven-
ton. In the first the House clerk de-
termines the tentative membership,
and in the second the committee on
credentials prepares a tentative list
of delegates. At the peace conference
delegates must be prepared to present
To- Prov hnSy lot ics-
lature. king, president or other eX-
ecutive authority.
1t is considered probable that sew
eral countries on the tentative list
will be closely restricted at the be-
ginning when broad questions of pol
icy will be outlined. But additions tc
the list of delegates may be made
to details and general principles. Still
later another class of nations may be
admitted, including the central pow.
ers. to lay the foundations for the
formal signing of peace treaties.
Theoretically these questions are
subject to mutual examination ano
challenge in case of doubt, but actual
ly, in the forthcoming conference, the
United States, Great Britain, France
Italy and later. perhaps, Belgium, by
reason of sentimental considerations
probably will reach an understanding
as to the admission OF. delegates.
Neutral Powers to Be Admitted.
The neutral powers probably will
be allowed to participate when the
stage is reached where it is desirable
there should be worldwide adop-
ton of the plans prepared at the pre-
liminary sessions for the permanent
settlement of war issues and the as.
surance Of permanent peace.
There are already indications that
Gus small states, some of them exist
ing before the war and others re-
sulting from the collapse Of Russia
and the division of Austria and Tur-
key. In this category are the Zionists
of Palestine, Arabs, Arm enians, Geor-
gians and small governments in Meso-
potamia, which the British and French
governments already have promised rec
ignition or protection.
The Czecho-slovak republic already
has been recognized by most Of the
nations Of the entente and by the
United States. Siberia, Finland ano
the Ukraine, Esthonia and numerous
other fragments Of Russia are seek.
ing recognition.
It is expected that the leading
powers will reach preliminary
agreement regarding the disposition
to be made Of these claimants, blu,
this will be subject to the approval OF
the general conference when it is
that these complexities of pre1imi.
nary organization are almost identi.
cal with those which confronted the
Vienna congress and which held of
the actual assembling of that body
for many weeks.