The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-23
WILSON GOING
TO FRANCE, IT
IS ANNOUNCED
Officially Stated He Will Head the
United States Peace
Mission
WIFE TO ACCOMPANY HIM
White House Announcement Says Mrs.
Wilson and Official Delegates Will
Go With President, Who Is to
Insist on League Of Nations.

ifotot VII GCdSNS W tNas'oHos
Paris, Nov. 20.-When allied troops
march under the Arch of Triumph at
the close Of the war allied sovereigns
and chief magistrates will be present,
says the Matin. 1t is understood that
the kings Of England, Italy, Belgium
and Serbia, Prince Alexander of
Greece, Presidents Wilson of the
United States and Poincare Of France,
a Japanese royal prince, representing
the mikado, and official representatives
of China, Portugal, Roumania and the
South American republics will be pres
ent. 1t is said that each ally will be
represented by crack regiment which
has fought In the most notable battles
of the war.
Washington, Nov. 20. - President
Wilson will head this cOuntry's dele
cation to the peace conference. He ex-
poets to sail for France within day
or two after December 2, the opening
of the regular session of congress
This was officially announced at the
White House. The statement Is as
follows:
"The president expects to sail for
France Immediately after the opening
Of the regular session Of congress for
the purpose of taking part In the dis
cussion and settlement Of the main
features Of the treaty Of peace.
1T is not likely that 1t will be pos
sible for him to remain throughout the
sessions Of the formal peace confer
enee, but his presence at the outset is
Ssa Ilslss ea IT, he %
fest Disadvantages Of discussion BY
cable In determining the general out.
lines of the final treaty, on which he
must necessarily be consulted.
HE will, 6f course, be accompanied
by delegates who will sit as the repre-
sentatives of the United States
throughout the conference. The names
of the delegates will be presently an
nounced."
Probable Makeup Of Mission.
The personnel of the American
peace delegation is a closely guarded
secret The general belief In official
quarters, however, is that the follow
ing will be the members selected:
Robert Lansing, secretary of state.
Newton D. Baker, secretary of war.
To x,t1 for of a ~
rlculture.
Charles E. Hughes, former governor
of New. York, former associate justice
of the Supreme court, and Republican
candidate for president in 1915.
The president will be the head of
party numbering nearly 200 persons,
Mrs. Wilson will accompany the
president, and 1t is assumed that the
wives of the other members of the
party also will be permitted to accom-
pany their husbands
The party win proceed to Europe, ac-
cording to present plans, aboard a
large ocean liner escorted by warships,
and will be given a reception at sea
by the navies of the allies transcend
ing In grandeur any event of an analo-
gous character IN history.
1t is expected that Vice President
Marshall will take the helm of the
ship of state willie Mr.. Wilson is
abroad.
Peace Conference In December.
=
The presidents announcement set
ties two questions. The first of these
Is the fact that the peace conference
will be an early one, beginning In De
cember; the second Is that 1t will be
held at Versailles.
The president will appear before
congress, presumably on the day Its
regular session opens, to explain more
infinitely the. reasons why, at this time,
1t Is imperative for him to 60 abroad.
His reasons, 1t was said, will go far
toward modifying the feeling In GER
tain quarters of the senate and the
house that 1t is unwise for him to
cave the country.
There are two outstanding reasons
why the presidents attendance Is nee
essary at the peace conference. He
wants to preserve the unity of counsel
that brought victory to the allies and
America on the battlefield, and which
characterized the sessions of the SUI.
preme war council at Versailles, and
he also wants to make secure the foun-
dations of a League Of Nations.
The latter is his plan for world and
lasting peace and he is so strongly
convinced of its efficacy that he is 60
ing to Europe to put 1t into concrete
form.
BY common consent and appreciation
Of all the allies the president will as
sumo the leading role at the moment
ous conference. The position of the