The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-17
AID
QUESTION AT
BEHIND-SCENES
conferences
Appointment of Hoover as
Director of Relief Main
Point of Discussion-Lan-
sing Organizes U. S. Force.
WILSON IS PLEASED
(By Associated Press)

PARIS, Dec. II Economic Ques
tions are coming prominently to the
front In the discussions now going on
behind the scenes preliminary to the
assembling of the inter-allied confer.
ence and the peace congress. The
main point hinges on the appointment
Of Herbert C. Hoover. the American
food administrator, as director general
for relief for all the allies and the
United States
An amendment to this has now been
suggested from allied quarters by
which an inter-allied commission
would control for the period of ono
year the distribution Of raw materials
to various countries.
Secretary OF State Ls1sing was in
conference this morning with a mum.
Der Of the members Of the American
delegation to the peace conference In
an effort to organize the working force.
The secretary met each individual
separately and began the assignment
of duties to the various members OF
the American group.
President at Versailles.
Secretary Lansing said that. 1t was
clearly impossible to do anything more
than this preliminary work, such as
the organization Of separate units, be-
fore the holidays. although there might
be and probably would be informal
conversations between the American
and entente delegates to the congress,
as they met socially and unofficiaily
Plans Visit to Troops
After the conferences he has had in
Paris and the personal examination he
has made into the situation here,
President Wilson has come to under
stand fully why the peace conference
cannot get under way before the first
Of the year. The mere physical pro-
position of getting the American mis-.
sion to the conference settled in its
offices is a tremendous job. II might
almost be compared to the task of
shifting the contents of a building
housing one of the great emergency
war organizations in America and set
ting it up in new place.
President Wilson's visit to the
American troops at the front and his
review Of them in Paris that is plan
ned will be entirely out of the way by
the first Of the year. Meanwhile, the
informal conferences which mean so
much and decide so much conference,
will continue to make progress. The
President is seeking to get acquaint-
ed with the men with whom he is to
deal SO that he may discuss with the
greatest freedom the problems aris-
ing and develop the value of the per-
sonal equation.
President Wilson's visit to Versailles
today was unannounced and informal
Mr.. Wilson's idea was to inspect the
golf course, which on advice of Rear
Admiral Grayson, his personal physi-
clan. he will probably visit as often
as time permits. The driver. who was
unacquainted with the route. missed
the golf course and Mr.. Wilson saw
only the palace, returning to Paris in
time for luncheon
Tomorrow night the president will
attend the reception to be given by
Ambassador Sharp at the American
embassy. King Victor Emmanuel and
Queen Elena of Italy will be received
at the Murat residence between FIVE
and seven o'clock Thursday evening
To Confer With LIoyd-Georoe
Today's reception was tho last of
the affairs arranged wholly by the
French government Hereafter all Mr..
Wilson's movements will be arranged
ioT Oy MS personal StaH. his CONFER
ence with Premier Lloyd George of
Great Britain is still indefinite as to
time, but it is not probable that it will
occur before the end Of this week or
the beginning of next
President Wilson, who is keen
observer of people and public opinion,
is said to have been impressed by the
hearty welcome Of the French people
as an evidence of interest in the prin-
ciples he has expressed for the con-
cert of the nations and the preserva-
tion of peace. He is understood to
be convinced that there are no diff
ferences in principles between The
people of the warning nations.