Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-25
PARIS MAY SECURE
FIRST GATHERINGS
Has Better Hotel Accommo.
dations Than Versailles for
Peace Preliminaries.
NO ARMIsTICE CHANGES
By the Associated Press.

TAtlS, november GO.-1Ho COuIeT.
ences on the preliminaries of peace
probably viii be held at Paris instead
of at Versailles, owing to the su-
perior accommodations and conven-
fences in the capital. Only the formal
sessions at concluding stages will be
l.eld at Versailles.
The only active sittings now going
commission, which holds daily ses-
sions at Spa, the former German head
quarters, but which now is held by
the French. French, British and
German delegates attend the meet
ings. Gen. Nudant represents Mar
shall Foch, with Commandant Sisteron
as his assistant. Gen. Won Winter
feldt is the German military repre-
sentative, and Matthias Erzberger. who
also was member Of the German
armistice delegation, participates In
most Of the sessions. -~
Foch Refuses Attention.
Some OF the meetings afes deacrabsd
as having been very animated over
the efforts Of the Germans TO-. obtain
modification of the terms Of the
armistice. Marshal Foch's reply was
a refusal to consider change. and q
dispatch from Basel gives the text OF
| the marsharS reply, which says:
mo attention can be given to the
| demands presented in Gen. Won Win
| terfeldt's letter of November 81"
The joint armistice commission meet
ing appears to be in accordance with
clause thirty-fOur Of the ar1nistice. which
admitted the principle Of a permanent
international armistice commission un-
der the direction Of the allied and naval
chiefs. While its duties are restr cted
to the execution of the armistice. 1t is
one Of the prelminaries which will
merge later into the sessions OF tho in
terallied conference and the peace con-
gress.
May Meet in January.
November 24.-According to informa-
tion from one quarter, negotiations
for the signing of preliminaries of
peace cannot commence before early
in January. The discussion will take
about a month and half, SO that the
signing of the protocol would not oc-
cur before the end of February. This
will necessitate q renewal of the ar
miStice, which expires on December
II unless extended before that time.
Previous to the January SittingS of
the congress. however, the interallied
conference will have sessions during
December, in which President Wilson
will take part.
Active preparations for the peace
congress are shown in the reQuisition-
ing of large number of the most im-
portant hotels in Paris for the accom-
mediation Of the extensive STATS of the
British, French, American, Italian and
other delegations.
Americans Choose Hotel Crillon.
The Americans have taken the
Hotel Crillon, facing the Place de la
Concorde. and the adjoining extern
cupied by the American Red Cross.
This gives the Americans a frontage
of nearly an entire block on the oppo-
site side of the Rue Royale from
the ministry of the marine.
In all some twenty-five Of the larg-
est hotels in Paris have been taken,
creating a great stringency in hotel
navy officers and men are finding the
greatest difficulty in securing quar-
ters
No Modification Expected.
The Matin states that 1t is able to
inform DR.. Solf. the German foreign
secretary, that the overtures he has
inspired at the Hague are vain and
that the United States and the allied
governments will never modify the
armistice clauses
The armistice as a whole lasts thir-
ty-six days from the date Of signing,
November IL, with the right of extern
sion and the right of denunciation on
forty-eight hours notice. The evacu-
alton of Alsace-Lorraine must be COM
pleted by November Is and the with
Rhine country designated in the ar
mistice is limited to December IL.
A renewal OF the armistice probably
will carry it beyond the opening of
the peace congress. when fuller con-
sideration can be given to its continu-
ance.
Restrictions on Submarin-s.
Restriction Of submarine operations
against merchant ships, SO as to pre-
vent attacks like that against the
Lusitania. doubtless will be proposed
in the discussion Of the peace con-
gress of the freedom of the seas
question.
It is the view Of leading naval au-
thorities who have examined this
branch Of the subject that submarine
operations should be limited to at
tacking ships forming the regular part
of a navy. Attacks would be per-
nitted against merchant ships, eithef
passenger or freight and whether
armed defensively or otherwise. Ac-
cording to this view submarines would
continue to be an arm Of a naval
service, but their service would be
confined strictly to naval warfare.
This and many other subjects "a
come before the peace congress are
now in formative state, - Il Wfu b
some time. perhaps q fortnight, before
the regular sittings of the inteyaJlied