The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-20
DATE FOR PEACE CONGRESS.
CONDITIONS CAUSE ALLIES TO
ACT QUICKLY IN ARRANG-
ING PROGRAM.
Belief Growing That President Will
son Will Attend But Not as Dele
gate--Secretary Lansing Sure to Go.

Washington, Nov. 15.-Develop-
ments in Europe, not only in the mill
tary way, but in the field of Internal
ional policies, and the tendency of the
revolutionary spirit manifested by the
demoralized civilian population Of
the Central empires to spread to
neighboring States have Influenced
the allied and American governments
to arrange for the meeting at an
early date Of the great peace con-.
gress.
The Atlantic cables were burdened
t)day with government business be-
lieved to have been made up for the
most part of exchanges between
Washington and Paris where the in
terallied council is endeavoring to
and place for holding the conference,
and the conditions under which It
shall be held, and the nations that
shall be admitted to participation.
Consideration of this last question
probably will occupy much tine, for
almost every day witnesses the
BIRTH of a new State. There has been
& disposition to delay the holding OF
! the peace conference until the pollt1-
cal situation in Europe had some
what crystalized, but it was under
stood today that other considerations
finally led to a decision by the asso-
ciated governments to proceed to as
semble the conference at the earliest
| date that can be set, having regard
to the difficulty of ensuring the at
tendance of commissions or delegates
at Versailles, which seems most ike
ly to be selected as the place OF the
meeting.
One reason suggested for the
change of decision is the necessity OF
restoring their channels OF trade ana
Industry in the late enemy States, SO
as to afford employment to LABOR
and thereby relieve the threat OF bol-
shevism and anarchy. Another IS the
general desire now expressed by al
of the allied populations of the CEN
trail powers from the danger OF fan-
inc. it being recognized that this re-
lief work can best be carried on AFTER
formal peace treaties have been ne
eotiated. There also has been some
apprehension that delay in the con-
summation of peace would have an
Injurious effect upon industries IN
America and the allied countries.
1 With the assurance of an early as
sembly of the peace conference at
tention today turned to the compost
ton of the American commission. Inc
belief is growing that President VII
son will attend, but probably not IN
the capacity of a delegate or commls-
sioner. It is known that secretary
Lansing will head the American COM
mission and Col. E. M. House, Justice
i Louis Brandeis and Elihu Root, form
err Secretary of State, were mention
ed as others likely to be selected.
Besides the delegates number OF
army and navy officers must be nam
ed to assist the commission. In that
connection attention has been direct
ed 10 the names of Gen. Tasker Il.
Bliss, former chief Of staff and now
American representative on the su-
prelne war council; Major Gen. Enoch
Crowder, judge advocate general ana
provost marshal, a veteran OF Ine
Hague conference, and Brig. Gen.
Samuel Ansell, acting judge advocate
general, and Vice Admiral VIM. S.
Sims, Capt. Ridley Mclean, formerly
judge advocate Of the navy.
James Brown Scott, former sollcl-
tor of the department of State and
at present secretary Of the CarnegeJ
Endowment for International Peace,
and also a participant in the last
conference at The Hague, is believed
to be under consideration as secre-
tary for the American commission.
There will, of course, be at least two
assistant secretaries and considerable
number of attaches and clerks.
If congress is to be represented ln
the commission, as was the case at
the Paris conference in 1893, when
peace treaties between the United
State and Spain were drawn, the
fact has not yet developed. On the
contrary, it was said that there Is a
decided disinclination to involve the
legislative branch Of the government
| in any way in the work of construct
ing treaties which is regarded as a
purely executive function under the
terms of the constitution. It also
was recalled today that the senate it
self not many years ago recorded its
formal objection to the appointment
by the president of any of its members
as commissioners to negotiate agree
ments which must afterwards come
before it for approval.
Notice has been taken by officials
here of the demand by certain So
ciaIstic elements, not only in Europe
but in America to have labor partici-
pate in thee peace congress. Officials
were understood to hold that to
recognize labor in this way would be
to establish class distinction which
would 5e thoroughly un-American.
On the other hand it was said that
by the appointment to the peace
commission Of man, such as Justice
Brandeis for instance, known to be
an ardent friend and champion Of Ia
Dor at all times, the interests Of the
working classes would be sure Of con-
servation.
It was made plain today that the
selection of Secretary Lansing to head