The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-12-06
President Wilson 10 Sail Tuesday
for Peace Conference
In Paris.
WHOLE WORLD IN TURMOIL
Creates, Armed Struggle Of History
Has Shaken Whole Structure Of
clVillxation-chanoe. Disorder
and Fighting. Features
Of European Situation.
sy EDWARD W. PIckARp.

Unless the unexpected happens
which seems I 10 be the rule rather than
the exception nowndays-Prcsident
Wilson will sail for the peace confer.
ence In Paris Tuesday on the George
Washington. Immediately after deliy-
cring his message TO congress, which
renssembles Monday. unoficial re-
ports are that he will appoint himself
n member Of the commission and will
act m chairman during his stay Of six
weeks OF more In Paris. Returning.
h. will be replaced by Secretary "
Wal Baker; Secretary Of State Ian.
sing will succeed him ~ chairman.
Other members Of the commission are
believed 10 be Col. T.. NJ. House. his
chief %conndant Secretary ~ Agricul.
ture Houston and Henry White. FOR.
mer ambassador 90 France.
Those who criticize tho president for
going must admit that his temptation
IN great Setting aside the fact that
he may feel II his duty to attend. Il
Il the literal truth that such n meet.
lng ~ soyerclgns. presidents. premicrs.
chancellors and high dlgnltaries of the
nations Of the earth the worlr has new.
er seen. Il N likely TO be preceded by n
grind review Of designated units ~
the victorious armies and fleets. Il
viii certainly be- preceded by consul
tutlons Of the heads Of many nations,
A. 10 the conference itself. Il has no
parallel In history. And among these
great one of the earth. who will be
more prominent than Woodrow WI.
son. president u the United States OF
America, both by reason Of his own
activities In the world struggle and Of
the unique position OF his countryi
Moreover, Mr.. Wilson viii have an
opportunity to be a modern solomon
To the many applicants for his per.
sonnl aid. These appeals have come
TO him from victor and vanqulshed,
from new nations and old. from the in.
dependent aud from those seeking In.
dependcnce-from Turkey, Luxem.
burg. Austria. Germany. Russia, Ire
land. Poland. Roumanla; from the
Jugo-Slnys and the Czecho- Slovaks.
Turkey asks for United States admin.
lstmtlon Of finances. etc. Luxemhurg
for protection MS q small independent
statei Austria for occupation by
American troops 20 prevent civil war
among newly formed nations. and so
on. Each request presents a different
problem.
on the other hand, the peace con.
ference faces the tremendous problem
Of re-constructlng n world. Thrown
without warning into the greatest
armed struggle IT all time. the nations
emerge from the bloody conflict 10
ind that II Is not only the lands that
have been trnmpled under foot thnt
must be reconstructed. but that the
whole structure Of modern civilization
has been shaken. Ancient institutions
and time-honored traditions are over
thrown. Mankind finds itself among
civic and economic ruins. At will be
too much 20 expect OF human nature
TO count on this peace conference he
Ing entirely peaceful. II Ia more like
~ to he a rough-and-tumble affair.
There are many possibilities Of trou-
BILE. Suppose our allies point out that
Americas traditional policy has been
me Of detachment from European AZ.
fairs and thai Tor two years and a half
she observed neutrality and then sug-
gest that she return to her detachment
aud allow the nations most intimately
concerned 20 arrange a settlement.
Suppose the fundamental principles Of
justice and right, given worldwide
publicity as the things for which
America vas nghting snd unoficlnlly
accepted by our allies, are thrown