Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-18
TWO PRESIDENTS
DINNER GUESTS OF
AMERICAN ENVOY
Wilson Devoting Much Time to
Consideration of Getting Men
Back Speedily.
HURLEY MAKES A CALL

Paris. Dec. ls.-Conferences on eco
nomic and shipping questions relating to
the return OF American troops occupied
q considerable hare OF President VIII
sons time yesterday. These topics torm-
ed part of the discussions at the inter
views which he had with Edward Hurley,
Chairman of the Shipping Board, and
Count Macchi di Cellere.
This evening he attended the dinner
gwen by the American Ambassador,
William G.. Sharp, IN honor OF himself,
Mrs Wilson, and President and Nine.
Poincare.
Among the guests were the Ambas-
sadors to France. the Presidents of the
Senate and Chamber, the Ministers of
Marine and Foreign Affairs, Marshals
.Ioffre and Foch and the Prefect of the
Seine and their wives, the American dele
gates TO the Peace Conference, and Gen
erals Pershing, Bliss, and Harris.
MET LEADING MEN OF FRANCE
A reception followed the dinner, at
which many notable men of France and
the United States were present.
A great crowd m ssed in front of the
embassy acclaimed both Presidents.
During the rainy morning MIR. Wilson
worked in his study, being obliged to
forego his expected trip to the golf links
at Versailles. Later the President and
Mrs Wilson went for an automobile drive
III the outskirts of Paris, he skies having
frightened toward noon.
After the drive they returned 10 the
Nurat mansion for luncheon. With them
al table were Miss Margaret Wilson and
Admiral Grayson.
In the afternoon the President saw
Count " Maochi di Cellere, Ambassador
of Italy. with whom Mr.. Wilson had
several important conferences on the
steamship George Washington in the
course Of the voyage from the United
States TO France.
1t is known that Mr. Wilson feels the
warmest sympathy for Italy's claims
arising from the war. and the President
practically told the Court the extent to
during the Forthcoming informal con-
iercnces with the Premiers Of the Entente
Governments.
ECONOMIC QUESTIONS TO TIE FORE.
Economic questions are coming prom
Inentlv 10 the front IN the discussions
now going on behind the scenes preliminary
to the assembling OF the Inter-Allied Con-
ference and the Peace Congress The
main point hinges on the appointment OF
Her bert c Hoover as Director General Of
Relief for all the Allies and the United
States
4 proposition concerning raw ma
terials promises to be the chief suX
ject Of debate when the question Of re-
lief is brosched. II has its origin in allied
quarters and caIls for an inter-alied
commission To control the distribution
al war materials for one year.
The American position Is that the
appointment of Mr.. Hoover TO head
the relief work should not be compli-
eated with the large general question
of raw maternal. This rs regarded as
more or less connected with the policy
adopted at the Allied Economic Con-
ference IN Pans before America entered
the war This policy hss not been adopted
hv the American Government, and the
present tendency of opinion in authorized
Americ4- quarters Is against It's adoption.
70 MEET GEORGE NEXT wEEk-
The American plan for relief was
presented 10 writing 70 the recent meeting
of the Supreme War Council London,
nut seton On II was postponed. The
arrival OF Premier lloyd George and
Premier Orland IN Paris tins week will
again bring these Premiers. together,
this time with President Wilson, and the
deferred relief project again will come
M for discussion and decision
4 number Of other questions also
are involved II the appointment of
Director General Of Relief particlh-
lariy the use Of merchant shipping now in
German ports for the distribution Of
supplies, and also the prompt movement
of American troops back 10 the United
states.
IN CONFERENCE WITH HURLEY.
President Wilson today conferred with
Edward y. Hurley, one of the subjects
under discussion being that OF shipping
for the homeWard movement Of American
troops.
During the past few DAYS the foreign
governments have been capceling the
charters OF ships used BY the United
States In transporting troops so that the
vessels might be put back In trade The
problem Is 70 hold enough tonnage TO
send the troops home at the rate pected
by the American people, with the home
OF completing the movement by Decem-
Der of next year.
: King Victor Emmanuel OF Italy, who
viii reach Paris on Thursday, will visit
President Wilson the following afternoon,
according to the present arrangements
It was originally intended by the Italian
Embassy to have the King and the Presi-
dent at dinner together on Friday, but
for ceremonial reasons IT has been decided
that tins will not be practicable as the
dinner Is TO be IN the Kings honor, and
1t Is not customary TO have two heads of
States at dinner when one is the guest
of honor
wHY THE CONFERENCE CANT SIT NOW
After the conferences be has bad and
the personal examination he has made
into the situation here President Wilson
has come 70 understand fully why the
Peace Conference cannot get under way
before the first of the year. The mere
physical proposition Of getting the Ameri-
can mission settled in its Office is a tremen-
dous Job. It might almost be compared to
the task of shifting the contents a
building housing one of the great
emergency war organizations in America
and sett ing it up IN new pI ace.