The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-12-06
PRESIDENT WILSON
TO HEAD DELEGATES
LANSING, WHITE, HOUSE AND
GENERAL BLISS SELECT
ED AS ENJOYS
BLISS RPOvEs A Surprise
Delay in Announcing Appointment to
Conference Due to Fact That Num-
Der of Representatives Had
Not Been Decided


son himself will head the American
delegation at the peace conference
This was announced officially last
night at the White house. The other
members of the delegation will be:
Robert Lansing, secretary of state.
Colonel e. NJ. House. &.
Henry White, former ambassador to
France and Italy.
General Tasker H. Bliss, former
chief of staff of the army and now
American military representative on
the supreme war council at Versailles.
| The White house announcement fol-
| lows
1T was announced at the executive
offices tonight that the representatives
of the United States at the peace con-
ference would be: The president him
self, the secretary of state, the Hon.
Henry White, recently ambassador to
France. Mr. Edward NJ. House and
Gen. Tasker Fl. Bliss.
1T was explained that it had not
been possible to announce these APP
pointments before because the number
of representatives of each of the chief
belligerents was to send until day
or two ago been under discussion
In the absence of an official explana-
ton it was assumed that the president
goes as president of the United States
and that Secretary Lansing, Mr.. White
and Colonel House. and possibly also
General Bliss, will be delegates with
ambassadorial rank.
1t was recalled that the presidents
announcement that he would go to
France, .sfor the purpose of taking part
in the discussion and settlement of
the main features of the treaty of
peace" said that it was not likely that |
he could remain throughout the SEES |
sions of the peace conference and that |
he would be accompanied by dele
gates who will sit as the representa- |
tives of the United States throughout
the conference"
Bliss Proves Surprise.
White House Officials would add
nothing to the formal statement, and
no one processing to be ia the conf
dence of the president would talk
There was only one surprise in the
statement-the appearance of the
name of General Bliss as one of the
representatives. 1t had been taken for
granted that the general military
representative of the United States
IN the supreme war council would take
,art in the discussions at Versailles,
tut the general idea had been he would
,e attached to the delegation In mil
tary capacity, just as Admiral Ben
on probably will be present as spokes
nan for the navy in the great naval
to be solved.
The premiers of Great Britain,
france and Italy are expected to at.
end the peace conference as repre-
entatives of their governments, but
Ike the president, may not remain
throughout the conferences. The gen.
raj understanding here is that pres
mt plans are to have the conference
irst to agree to the broad principles
f the treaty and leave the working out
f the details to further sittings.
This would enable the president and
ne entente premiers speedily to re
urn to the capitals of their respective
ountries so as to give their personal
ttention to affairs of state.
No further announcement of the
residents plans was made last night
Ie expects to sail the day after he
ddresses the new session of congress,
nd the address probably will be de
vered either Monday or Tuesday. On
IS ship, the transport George Wash,
gton, will go the peace delegation
I'd it's army of experts and clerical
,sistants.
In order to avoid confusion and to
we trouble, the war trade board last
ght issued blanket export license
cover the baggage of all passengers
ling on the George Washington, as
ell as that of the newspaper men
no start for Europe tomorrow at noon
ON New York on the steamer