New-York tribune., 1918-11-20

until December 2, Mr.. Wilson has
ample time to complete the prepara-
ton of the speeches.
1t is assumed here that the vessel
on which the President travels Will
have an escort of honor from the AL
lied fleets and that he will have
guard picked from the Allied armies
during his sojourn in France. Mrs.
Wilson is expected to accompany the
President, whose personal staff Will IN
c,ude Joseph P. Tumulty, Rear Admiral
Cary T. Grayson. his physician, and his
naval and military aids.
To Meet Premiers First
Before addressing the peace confer
ence President Wilson will meet IN
Paris, according to expectations here,
the Premers of Great Britain, France
and Italy, their Foreign Ministers and
President Poincare of France, as we'll
as the delegates to the conference rep
resentug the Allied belligerents.
whether he will grant an interview to
the German and ustro-Hungar;an
plenipotentiarie before the conference
begins, or at all, is problematical.
AT these preliminary meetings, which,
if they take on formal character, may
be held at Versailles, President Wilson
is expected to invite the frank views
of the heads of the associated govern
ments upon questions which rank fore
most in his mind, with a view OF assur-
ing the future peace of the world. At
the same time he will express his own
convictions without reserve and in the
interest of the fullest understanding
and harmony.
To Limit His Activities
1t is not likely, it was thought to-
day, that the President would accept
invitations. which are expected, to visit
London and Rome. 1t is also lmprob-
able that he will accept Invitations to
address the world-famous scientif,
bodies in Paris during his stay, but will
rather confine his entire time to the
single object OF his going, the peace
deliberations and settlements.
The announcement by the President
of his intention of visiting the congress
suggested to international observers
that an agreement had been reached
between the Allied powers and America,
and that possibly President Wilson
-Eould be ex-oficio chairman of the
american delegation, and the Allied
Premiers ex-othcio chairmen OF their
respective delegations.
Whether the presence of the Presi-
sdent OF the United States will cause
the rulers of England and Italy to at
tend also is a question, but it is
doubted they will be present. King
Albert of Belgium, however, one of the
heroic figures of the war, whose coun-
try in great sense has symbolzed
the cause of the war, very properly
may be present at the opening. Presi-
dent Poincare of France, as host of
the conference, may Welcome the plen-
ipoCenuarleS ana pIeSeHI IIes' 'Iueht
Wilson to the conference.
IT was suggested in one quarter that
President Wilson, President Poincare
and King Albert might be made honor
ary presidents of the conference, the
active presiding officer of which may
be British Foreign Minister Balfour
With such an arrangement the active
vice-pres dency might go to Baron Son
nino, the Italian Minister, and the sec
retaryship to France or to the United
States.
May Agree on League
The words Of the White House state
ment that the President would go for
the purpose of taking part in the dis.
eussion and settlement of "the mair
features of the treaty of peace" and
that it is not likely he will remair
throughout "the sessions Of the forma
peace conference" inspired the belle
that there has been prepared and il
ready for submission TO the Allied gov
ernments, whose most responsible
leaders will meet the President a
Paris or Versailles in state confer
ences, the constitution of the propose,
league of nations.