The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-12-05
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
President Wilson to Sail Tuesday
for Peace Conference
in Paris.
WHOLE WORLD IN TURMOIL
Greatest Armed Struggle Of History
Has Shaken Whole Structure Of
vilization-Change, Disorder
and Fighting, Features
Of European Situation.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

Unless the unexpected happens
which seems to be the rule rather than
the exception owadays-President
Wilson will sail for the peace confer.
ence in Paris Tuesday on the George
Washington, Immediately after deliV-
ering his message to congress, which
reaSSembles Monday, Friday night Pres
ident Wilson announced the appoint
ment OF the peace commission. He
names himself as a member and will
act as chairman during his stay of six
weeks or more in Paris. Returning, he
will be replaced by Secretary OF War
Baker; Secretary Of State Lansing will
succeed him as chairman. Other mem
bers of the commission are: Col. Ed
ward NJ. House, the presidents chief
Coniidnnt; Henry White. formerly am
bnSsador 30 Italy and France; Gen.
Tasker II. Bliss, American military adj
wiser OF the supreme war council.
Those who criticize the president for
going must admit that his temptation
Is great. Setting aside the fact that
he nay feel it his duty 10 attsnd, II
Is the literal truth that such a meet
ing of sOyercigns, presidents, premIers.
chancellors and high dignitares Of the
nallons of the earth the worlr has new
ar seen. 1t is likely 10 be preceded by n
grind review Of designated units Of
the victorious armies and fleets. II
vii certainly be preceded by consul.
cations Of the heads Of many nations.
As Ia The conference itself, ii has no
parallel in history. And among these
great ones Of the earth. who will be
more prominent than Woodrow VIII
SUI. president Of the United States Of
America. both by reason Of his own
activities IN the world struggle and Of
the unique position of his country?
Moreover, Mr.. Wilson will have an
opportunity 10 be modern Solomon
a. the many applicants for his per
sonai aid. These appeals have come
10 bin from victor and vanqushed
from new nations and old, from the in
dependent and from those seeking in
Experimentation Turkey, LuXem.
burg. Austria, Germany, Russia. Ire.
land. Poland, liouuania; from the
JuCo-Savs and the Czecho- Slovnks.
Turkey asks for United States admin.
isJrauon of finances etc. LuxemhurE
for protection as Il small independent
state; Austria for occupation by
American troops 10 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 rec0nstructing world. Thrown
without warning into the greatest
armed struggle Of all time, the nations
emerge from the bloody conflict Il
find that It Is not only the lands that
have been trumpIed under foot that
must be reconstructed but that IN,
whole structure Of modern civilization
has been shaken. Ancient institution,
and tmehonored traditions are over
thrown Mankind finds itself amonJ
civic and economic ruins. IT will b,
too much 10 expect Of human nature
TO count on this peace conference be
ing entirely peaceful. II Is more like
Iy to be a rough-and-tumble affair.
There are many possibilities Of trou
BILE Suppose our allies point out tina
Americas traditional policy has bee
one Of detachment from European al
fairs and that for two yenrs aud hal
she observed neutrality and then sue
gest that she return 10 her detachmen
aud allow the nations most lntlmatei
concerned 20 arrange O settlement
Suppose the fundamental principles q
justice and right, given word.wid
publicity as the things for whIc
America was fighting and unofficial