Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-20

PARIS December 19.-Definite plans
for the peace conference are not shap-
ing as rapidly as some of the Ameri-
can commissioners expected. Mean
while President Wilson is taking ad-
vantage of the opportunity to assess
public opinion in France and Incl
dentally in Great Britain. His ad-
visers say that he is entirely satisfied
that these peoples are largely in ac-
cord with the principles he has an
nounced as necessary to durable
peace.
The members of the American mis-
sion are employing their time, before
the peace delegates from the various
countries actually assemble. in Sc
rieS of informal conferences which
eventually will include a representa-
tive of each of the entente belliger-
ents. Neutral states will not come
into these discussions.
Peace-Making First Task.
The feeling among all the entente
conferees is that the making of peace
should be their first task, so that they
may determine upon the broad out
lines of a league of nations, which,
later, representatives of neutral coun-
tries Will assist IN competing.
While the American commissioners
are holding these informal exchanges
which are designed to clear up diverg-
encieS of opinion, the President is con-
Stantly giving the closest attention tC
immediate problems. He is receiving
reports from the United States, from
American diplomatic agencies through
out the world and from the group of
investigators brought here for the pur-
pose of studying the many special
problems which will arise. These in
NestigatorS are continuing their studies
With the advantage now of being on
the ground and in intimate contact
with original sources of information.
Favors Only Paris Conferences.
American observers deduce from the
pressing invitation to the President to
come to England during Christmas
time that some conferences of the
would logically follow. 1t is under
stood. however, that the President
favors the holding of all conferences
in Paris as far as possible.
1t appears to be virtually settled that
all the actual peace conferences will
he held in Paris and that the informal
exchanges, which will lay the ground
work for the final deliberations, also
will be carried on here.
There is still much uncertainty
whether the sessions at the NercalileS
conference will be open to the public
or be secret. The American diplomats
however. seem quite eager to have
them open as far possible for many
reasons, among these the declaration
of President Wilson that the courses
of diplomacy should proceed in the
open. Still it is said they are in ac-
cord with the President that the dis
cussions cannot be conducted as freely
in the open as would be possible in
the secret and quiet of the council
chamber.
May Follow o. S. Senate Plans.
The general opinion inclines to the
view that the conference may be
modelled after the procedure of the
United States Senate, where the for
eign relations committee considers in
ternational affairs secretly and later re-
port it to the whole body.
1t is asserted that President Wilson
still holds to the view that it would
be preferable for him not to sit at
the peace table. This preference, it
was said today. is connected in a
measure with divergence of opinion