Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-17
PRESIDENT WAVES
CUSTOM AND CALLS
UPON CLEMENCEAU
Wilson Gets Into Touch Quickly
With French Premier, Omit
ting Formalities Estab-
lished by Precedent.
MEETS GREEK PREMIER

Paris, Dec. 17-President Wilson DC
gan breaking traditions yesterday when,
In addition to paying formal visit TO The
City Hall for the appointed ceremonies
there he made call at 80 o'clock IN the
| afternoon at the ministry of war for a
talk with Premier Clemenceau, who also
is minister of war He decided also TO
accept the dinner invitations OF foreign
ambassadors, his first acceptance peing
to the invitation extended by the Earl OF
Derby the British Ambassador to France.
The visit of the head of IA foreign nation
to the ministry of war and his acceptance
of the hospitality of foreign ambassadors
arc not strictly in accordance with custom,
but President Wilson felt that the OPP
portunities thus afforded of getting into
personal contact justified him In disre-
garding the traditions.
President Wilson, accompanied by Col.
T.. NJ. House but otherwise unattended,
arrived at the French ministry OF war at.
| 40 o'clock in the afternoon. Georges
Clemenceau, president of the council
! and minister of war came with out
stretched hands to the top of the wide
stairs and greeted the President warmly.
"oLp TIGER" WAS PLEASED.
The premier took Mr.. Wilson's hand
in both Of his and shook it vigorously in
| the especially vigorous manner the old
| "tiger'' has when displaying pleasure.
How do YOU do, Mr. Presldent?"
said the premier
| Quite well, Mir President, answered
| Mr.. Wilson,
You are not tired?" asked NJ. Clemen-
I ceau
NO, quite ft," declared the President
Mr. Wilson was then ushcred by Pres
| mier Clemcnceau into his private office,
| Colonel House remaining in the ante
! chamber chatting with General Mordack.
! President Wilson lcfI the ministry at
| 5 O'Clock.
The Presidents journey to the War
Ministry was made by way of outer boule
wards through Mont Martre the Sem
| being crossed by Alexander Ill bridge.
| So great were the crowds that access to
| the inner borllevards was impossible.
| At the Ministry Of War the Old Territorial
class Of 1895. on the eve Of beng demo
Iizcd formed the guard Of honor.
Premier Eenizelos, OF Greece, met
President Wilson yesterday in q conference
at which the Greek aspirations and view
point were doubtless placed before the
President
The meeting with the Greek Pre-
micr. like that with Premier Clcmcn-
ccau, was outside OF the formal programme
for today and constituted a part Of the
, intimate personal exchanges by which the
President Is obtaining the views OF the
European statesmen and they are obtain
ing his views.
President Wilson passed the early
forenoon indoors, reading large number
Of letters. He then started by automobile
for q visit to Versailles, where the final
meeting Of the Peace Conference will be
held. going BY way OF the Bois de Boulogne
The President was accompanied by Mrs.
Wilson.
VISITS BATTLEFIELD TO-DAY.
President Wilson is visiting the principle
points along the old fighting front,
notably the battlefield on the Marine.
according to newspapers.
Not even the number Of delegates to
the pace conference has as yet been
fixed, SAYS an official note issued today
denying various reports as TO the make
up OF the French delegation. The note
reads:
"Various newspapers have gwen the
composition of the French delegation
to the peace conference. Their infor-
nation is incorrect. Even the number of
delegates will not be fixed until an under
standing is reached between the Allied
Governments, the same as for the procedure
Monday was another holiday for Par
is. The residents in the section of the
city east of the Place de Ia Concorde
saw the President Yesterday for the first
time. and they made the most of their