The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-14
PRESIDENT MAY
REPEAT VISIT
Will Go Back to France Later
if Needed, but Hopes to
Avoid Second Trip.
CUTS DOWN FUNCTIONS
Declines All Invitations That
Are Not of an Absolutely
Necessary Nature.
CUTS DOWN FUNCTIONS
By Wireless TO the Associated Press.

on BOARD THE U. S. s. GEORGE
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Dec. 12.-
President Wilson will remain in Eu-
rope probably for two months, re-
turning to Washington, If indications
are that his presence Is necessary,
just before the close of the present
Congress.
If he IS required later at the peace
table it is said he will not hesitate to
return to France. 1t Is known, how
ever, that he hopes to avoid this lat
ter contingency and that all affairs
requiring his counsel will be disposed
of before the middle of February.
Refreshed and invigorated by ten
days at sea in probably one Of the
calmest voyages ever made in this
season of the year, notwithstanding
occasional squalls, President Wilson is
in excellent physical condition for the
hard work ahead of him.
Has Exercised Constantly.
From the time the George Washing
ton passed out OF sight of the Statue
of Liberty the American executive has
exercised consistently. n has rested
a great deal, but still has found time
for much work in daily conferences
and with state papers. He has made
appointments, accepted designations
and signed pardons. and conducted by
wireless, probably for the first time in
history as the head OF any nation,
more work than ever before has been
accomplished in this manner.
Meanwhile he has been in constant
touch with American officials in Wash
lngton and Paris.
Invitations from Europe have been
coming in large numbers by wire
less, but President Wilson has been
uniform in declining them and trying
TO cut down the number OF official
functions arranged for him to a min
imum. He has summarily rejected al
invitations which might be liable to
be construed as meaning that he is
on pleasure trip.
Cannot ForeEo Visit to Troops.
feels he cannot forego a visit TO the
American troops at the front or a
visit to the devastated regions OF
France, and that he intends to crowd
such visits into his absences from Paris
up TO January 3, when the peace con-
ference gets down to business. Dur
ing the succeeding six weeks he will
conduct his daily business at the Mu-
rat Palace, the same as at the White
House, surrounded by his clerks, ste
nographers and attendants
The President to-day completed his
| conferences with members Of the
American mission and the Ambas assa-
doris aboard and everything now is
ready for the informal but important
preliminary conferences with the En-
tente Premiers, beginning probably
next Tuesday
In the final conferences aboard ship
| to-day the President made clear his
position on vital questions in order
that his ideas should be we'll defined
before the meetings with the Entente
Premiers.
1t is said that President Wilson :
| conferences with Entente statesmen
| during the next few days undoubtedly
will centre on questions surrounding
| the proposed league Of nations and
/ the definition Of freedom of the seas, -
and possibly also on the question Of
indemnity.
Freedom of Seas Deemed. &.
On the question of the league Of
| nations there will be discussion. IL is
| said, whether the league shall be pro
vided for in the treaties of peace or
| later. 1t is known to be Pres den t
Wilson'S position that the peace
treaties should embody agreements to
create the League. 1t Is also known to
he his conviction that there Is strong
| necessity for establishing, upon a very
| clear deiinition, freedom Of the seas.
The much discussed point in Presi-
dent Wilson's fourteen essential points
for peace, on which Great Britain has
reserved decision. Is said to be not
intended to specify unqualified free
dom of the seas outside territorial
waters. but only TO stipulate that no
single nation shall restrict freedom
and that when freedom is restricted it
shall be only Ny a concrete Power
| enforcing international covenants.
Reduction of Armaments.
1t IS expected that the President
will approach what may be differences
| in opinion rather than of principle,
and that he will rely upon open mind
cd conferences and processes which
will not involve unnecessary antago-
nisIn. II IL said to he his attitude that
neither the United States nor the other
| Governments should assume the role
OF master, and that he believes he is
! supported by public opinion gcncr-
ally as to the agreement TO bc soug hi
| for between peoples, rather than gov
ernments, as vsscutiais 10 ending Il
| peoples war.
| Tho reduction OF armaments pro
ContirEed on Second Page.