The Washington times., 1918-11-24

IN EAR SUSAN@Sinee the official
announcement that the Presi-
dent would go abroad for the
opening OF the peace confer
ence at Versailles, there haa been but
zone topic of conversation in wash
ington, and discussion has -waxed fast
and furious. Lawyerg aAd politicians
Z are concerned with the legal and po-
litical aspects OF his leaving the
country; statesman are giving grave
consideration to the effect which his
( presence win have. on international
relations, and the, man in the street.
fwho gets into deep water when IL
comes to the discussion of such mat
tiers. Is peculiarly interested in the
Z personnel of the delegation which
: the United States is sending to the
conference and the makeup OF the
/ Presidents party. -. -
stenter hooks to know who the femi-
mine members OF the Presidents party
are to be. Mrs. Wilson is the Presi-
dents constant companion. Since
their marriage he has never left town
without taking her with him. and II
Is inconcefvable that he would start
on on such q journey-such an his
toric Igrfmage-without her. Pre-
sumably,7 she will need q secretary,
and the question of who is to have
the coveted post is q matter for in
feresting, If prontless, speculation.
Miss Edith Benham, social secretary
At the white House, seems to be the
most obvious person, unless the First
Lady should decide to take her sister.
Miss Bertha Boiling, or Miss Helen
woodrow Bones, in this capacity :
Then, too, Rear Admiral Cary T.
Grayson is almost sure to go, func-
tioning as the Presidents physician
$50 1t seems quite within the bounds
OF possibility that Mrs. Grayson, who
AS Gertrude Gordon was a particular
protege of Mrs. Wilson-then Mrs.
norman Ga1t-and travelled all over
Europe with her. may also be included
IN the Presidential party, which will
probably leave Washington early in
December, Immediately after Congress,
sreeonvenes and settles itself down for
fts last session.
Mrs Lansing Says She j
Win Accompany Husband.
There seems to be no question that
the Secretary of State win be one of
the commissioners of the United
States to the conference; and Mrs.
Lansing says very frankly that II her
husband is sent abroad she will ac-
company him. as she never goes. any
where without me, you know" It
win be no new thing for Mrs. Lansing
70 be sort Of collateral member of
an important diplomstir mission. Her
father, Gen. John W. Foster, repre-
scented the United States at Paris dur
ing the settlement of-the Behring sea
controversy, participated, at the in
vitation of the Emperor of China, in
the peace negotiations which ended
the war between China and Japan, and
took part in several other important
international conferences On several
occasions Mr.. Lansing served as his
secretary and Mrs. Lansing went
along. She has, therefore, enjoyed
some wonderfully interesting expert
enceE, although none OF these confer |
enees could. OF course, compare with
the tremendous. history-making i'm
portance OF this gathering at YER
saiIies.
Since the President is to take his |
wife along and the Secretary Of State |
will be accompanied by Mrs. Lansing. |
there seems little doubt that the |
other American delegates to. the |
peace conference may be accompanied |
~ some of the feminine members of |
their families. Miss Margaret Wilson |
Is at present abroad. and may well |
Join her father in Paris while the |
peace deliberations are on-what |
wouldn't you give to be there?-and |
another woman who will probably. by |
happy chance, be on the ground is |
Mrs. George Barnett. wife of the |
major general commandant of the |
marine corps. 49, $780,
Mrs. Barnett sailed for France a