Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-18

the warmest sympathy for the pur-
poses which led Italy to enter the
war. Nevertheless, the tentative
lines laid out in consequence of an
investigation by Colonel Edward M.
House respecting the probable ex-
tent of territory which should go to
Italy. on the principles of racial or
linguistic determination, do not fully
accord with the ideas of the Italian
government, which feels that it
should go further than is indicated
by this outline. This is one of the
subjects which Mr.. Wilson discussed
with Count Cellere.
President Wilson's last engage
ment yesterday was with Marshal
Foch, giving the President the Up-
portunity TO sec for the first time the
man who led the Allied armies 10
victory.
Economic questions are coming
prominently to the front in the dis
cussions now going on behind the
scenes preliminary to the assembling
of the inter-allied conference and the
peace congress. The main point
hinges on the appointment of Her
bert c. Hoover, the American Food
Administrator. as director general
of 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 one
year the distribution of raw ma
terials to various countries.
America Wants Hoover
The American position is that the
appointment of Mr.. Hoover to head
the relief work should not be compli-
Gated with the large general ques-
tion of raw material The question
| of raw material is regarded as more
or less connected with the policy
adopted at the Allied economic con-
ference in Paris before America en-
tered the war. This policy has not
been adopted By the American Gov
ernment and the present trend of
opinion in authorized American
quarters is against its adoption.
The American plan for relief was
presented in writing to the recent
meeting of the Supreme War Coun-
Gil in London, but action on it was
postponed. The arrival of Premier
Lloyd George and Premier Orlando
In Paris next Thursday will again
bring these Premiers together, this
time with President Wilson, and the
deferred relief project again will
come up for discussion and decision.
An amendment concerning raw
materials, which has been proposed,
promises to be the main subject of
discussion. A number of other ques-
tions also are involved in the ap-
pointment of u director general of
relief, particularly the use of mer-
chant shipping now in German ports
for the distribution of relief and
also the prompt movement of Amer
lean troops hack to the United
States.
President Wilson conferred with
Edward n. Hurley, the Shipping
Director, one of the subjects under
discussion being that of shipping
for the homeward movement of
troops. During the last few days
the foreign governments have been
cancelling the charters of ships used
by the United States in transport
ing troops so that the vessels might
be put back in trade. The problem
is to hold enough tonnage to send
the troops home at the rate expected
by the American people, with the
hope of completing the movement
by December of next year.
In the afternoon the President
saw Count Macchi di Cellere, the
high commissioner of Italy for
America, with whom Mr.. Wilson had
several important conferences on the
steamship George Washington DUR
ing the voyage from the United
States.
sympathy For Italy
1t is known Mr.. Wilson feels the
warmest sympathy for Italy's claims
arising from the war and the Presi-
dent virtually told Count Cellere the
extent to which he was willing tc
support them during the forthcom-
ing informal conferences with the
Premiers of the Entente govern
ments.