Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-13
PRES|DEMP[ANS
TO GO TO EUROPE
Will Be at Opening Session of
Peace Conference if
Possible.
STAY WOULD BE SHORT
STAY WOULD BE SHORT
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

RY DAVID 1kAwkS6kCNOGAs
Copyright, 1918. BY N. 7. Evening Post 1nc.)
Unless unforeseen events compel
change, President Wilson will attend
the opening session Of the peace con-
ference, whether it is held IN EUROPE
or on this continent.
The White House and State De-t
partment made no announcements
but it is known that the, President
is desirous of accepting, II possible,
the invitations being extended to him
to visit Europe.
Mr.. Wilson could not, Of course. re-
main indefinitely in Europe. or long
enough, indeed. to participate In al
the important meetings. but he might
attend the opening sessions and leave
the American peace delegation TO con-
tinue to work for the general pr1n-
ciples which he will have outlined as
the positfon Of the United States.
Mr. Lansing at Head.
Secretary Lansing will be at the
head Of the American delegation, and
Col. House very likely will remain as
unofficial adviser. which Is MS own
wish and preference. Elihu Root un-
ouestionably will be one OF the COM
missioners and possibly Justice
Brandeis of the Supreme Court OF the
United States.
Col, House himself has been urging
the President to go to Europe Many
months ago tho colonel told this
correspondent that only one man
should be at the head of the United
states deleEation at an event 50 I'M
portant as the settlement OF the
european war. Col House felt tnat
strumental in shaping the course OF
the war that his addresses to the
peace conference at its opening would
be a deep inspiration to all the dele
gates. Col. House has believed that
he himself could do more to forward
international harmony and gooo-wi VI
by remaining in an unohciai ana az
yisory capacity than by actually head
ing the delegation.
Secretary Of State Lansing. whose
experience in the international confer
ences and arbitration councils IS great
ican. has been urged by Col. House to
20 to Europe on past occasions. In
deed. the colonel sponsored the sug-
gestion that Mr.. Lansing go to the
first interallied council at Versailles.
but he was loath to leave his tasks IN
the Department Of State
Certainly there never has been q
moro harmonious combination IN
Washington than that OF the rPfeS1-
dent, Col. House and Secretary Lam
ports and rumors frequently. put out
BY hostile >interests-amonE them
Count Won Bernstorn hfmself-that
friction and jealousy existed
Will Not Be Partisan.
Tho personnel of the Americah
peace delegation will include repub-.
licans as well as democrats. Elihu
Root, the foremost of republican
statesmen, has been working in close
cooperation with Col. House for some
time in preparing for the peace con-
ference. It will be noted that Mr..
Root did not engage in the republic
can campaign recently which attacked
tho Presidents foreign policy. In
decd, It is said that he privately took
issue with many Of the criticisms of
his republican fiend4
1kr. Root was the American repPo-
sentative At the second HaS0e con.
very perplexing question of freedom
Of the seas" and while Mr.. Roosevelt
has been busy attacking that doc
trine, 1t probably will develop when
the curtain is lifted that the United
states government Is standing exactly
for the same freedom Of the seas
which was announced, by Mr.. Root
when on President Roosevelt's in
struction he went to the Hague con-
ference in 1907.
The President showed his confidence
in former Secretary Root by sending
him to Russia. The American peace
delegation will probably be composed
of conservatives and radicals alike.
Mr.. Root would in a sense. represent
conservative opinion. while . man
ike Justice Bfandeis has the conf
dence Of American labor ~ well n
The lAbogiAg clauses Sfs EuKopA 0uah;
d Aaaag193s0 Vo6ld sbeGDeak, n AAn.
lContinued On Second PageJ