Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-20
WILL DEPART
after XMAS
WITH TROOPS
Arrives in London Next
Thursday-Peace Work
Is Well Under Way.

initely announced this after
neon that President Wilson and
/ Mrs. Wilson would arrive in
London on Thursday OF next
! week, Dee. 26.-They will be
/ the guests OF King George at
Buckingham palace.
! Earl Curzon is active for the war
cabinet in the arrangements being
made by the lord chamberlain de-
/ partment for the reception and en-
tertainment of the president.
! John W. Davis, the American am
! bassador, was received by Foreign
/ Secretary Balfour today, in connsc-
/ tion with the arrangements for the
visit
/ Paris. Dec. 20.-President Will
/ sons plans for visiting London,
while not yet positive, contemplate
that he will leave for England next
Thursday, Dec. 26. He probably
J viii remain in England four days.
/ Details of the trip to London are
being worked out by the president
in consultations with Colonel House.
Captain Andre Tardieu, and mem
bers of the American embassy staff
N London.
Starts After Meal With Yanks.
! The president will start for Lon
don Immediately after he has
Christmas dinner with the Ameri-
can troops in the field. The presi-
dent will not return directly to
Paris, but it is expected he will
visit the devastated regions of
northern France and Belgium. It is
expected he will be back in Paris
/ about Jan 4, on the eve of the first
meeting of the inter-allied confer
! ence on Jan. 6.
VIII Fix Basis for Action.
The opening meeting of the in
ter-allied conference will be con-
sfnsa-s<v~TepTesertstrves Of tire afS-'
/ lies and the United States, who will
arrange a common basis of action
for the formal sessions of the peace
! congress which will open toward
the middle or latter part of Jan
uary. 1t is expected that the Ger
man delegates will then be sent for
( for the first time 1t is pointed out
that this is not q negotiated peace,
but a victorious peace, based on
virtual unconditional surrender, IN
which the enemy is cOmDelled to
give up all demanded. The main
| purpose of the preliminary confer
ance beginning early in January is
to arrange a common front for the
/ peace congress.
For that reason the conferences
going on between the president and
Iremier Orlando of Italy and later
with Premier Lloyd George in Lon
don. have an important bearing on
his preliminary adjustment.
COnfers With Italy Chiefs.
President Wilson spent the most
Of today comforting with Italian
statemen and considering the
claims that Italy viii lay before the
peace conference
Early in the day Mr.. Wilson con-
ferred for some time with Premier
Orlando and Foreign Minister Son
ninO of Italy who explained in de-
tail their countTy's ambitions. The
president has expressed warmest
sympathy with Italy's aspirations
but has not committed himself fully
as to his views.
After the conference, Mr.. Wilson
terial presented and com pairing it
with data collected by Colonel E.
NJ House. who spent some time in
Italy, to determine, what in his
opinion, should be Italy's claim. Mr..
Wilson frankly told Premier Or
iando and Baron Sonnino that he
did not know what Italy should re-
ceive but added that he intended TO
support action that would be just
Reception Held.
The program for the day also in
clUded a reception at the Murat
residence of the ambassadors and
ministers accredited to France.
This reception, one Of the most col
orful and dignifed 10 take place
during Mr.. Wilson's visit TO France,
was scheduled to begin at p. m
The majority of the members of the
large diplomatic corps here had
never met the president and all
were eager to greet him personally.
While the diplomatic corps was
being received a committee from
the French senate waited TO for
mally welcome the president TO
France and give expression to the
cordial sentiments and bonds of
friendship between the two repub-
lies. Because or this engagement
previously arranged luncheon with
Stephen Plchon, foreign minister,
was cancelled.
The plans for Mr.. Wilson's visit
to England are being arranged By
the American embassy,
Paris took another holiday today
because OF the arrival Of King Vic
tor Emmanuel and his son. the
Prince of Piedmont. The reception
given the Italian sovereign was not
az large as that that welcomed the
arrival of Mr.. Wilson, but 1t was
fully as enthusiastic.
Meeting With King Cordial.
The oordiaiity shown at the
meeting between Mr., Wilson and
King Victor Emmanuel yesterday
wns a subject OF much comment by
those who were present The pres
dent had been somewhat concerned