The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-19
Party to Start for Confer
ence in France Early
in December.
TO BE GONE SIX WEEKS
Lansing. Houston, Baker
and c. f. Hughes Prob
able Commissioners.
ACTION UNPRECEDENTED
Problem of How Work of the
Government Can Be Han
died Is Unsolved.
special Despatch TO Tar SrN.

SDccI0I Despatch TO TIE SCN
WASHINGTON, Nov. lS.-Presi.
dent Wilson is going to the peace
early in December, and the American
Peace Commissioners and large
staff Of experts will sail on the same
ship. Mrs. Wilson, If present plans
are carried out, will accompany the
President
MI doubts as to the Presidents In
tcntion. about which there has been
50 much speculation, we're set at rest
tonight when an official statement
was issued at the White House. The
names of the Peace Commissioners
are expected momentarily.
1t is the Presidents intention TO
confinr the selection to members OF
his official family aud one eminent
Republican. Indications point to-
night to the selection as Peace Com
misioners of Secretaries Lansing.
Baker and Houston, with the Repub-
lican Commissioner probably Charles
f.. Hughes.
Large Liner VIII he Needed.
Plans for the Presidents trip are al
ready in the process of formulation.
On account OF the size Of the party one
Of the large converted liners will be Sc
lected for its use. It ia believed the
departure will he made in the second
week OF December
There is as vet nothing definite as Ia
the length OF tho Presidents stay
abroad 1t IS believed that the Presi-
cent has not decided even in his own
mind, but in well informed quarters the
/ idea is advanced that the trip will not
take more than six weeks. There is
feeling, however that he will virtually
'e obliged to visit not only France but
Great Britain and Italy.
The President. it is understood. plans
upon his arrival in France to make
sort Of keynote address to those who
are shaping plans for the peace confer
ence and who will participate in it's de
ihcrations. The conference may not
begin regular sessions until January.
but an outline of work will be mapped
out ard an effort made to bring the as
soclated Governments into thorough ac-
cord on all important points before the
drawing up of the treaty of peace ac-
tually is undertaken. This will be done
at series OF preliminary conferences
in December. The sceno Of these con-
ferences will probably be Versailles.
VIII Meet Premters.
Most OF the broad gauge work OF the
peace conference may be accomplished
at these preliminary meetings, and il is
in the realization OF this fact that the
President has decided his trip abroad
Not only does he propose to make an
address that will be an elaboration OF
mis- many utterances here but il is also
his plan 10 enter into personal discus
sion with Lloyd George. Clemenceau and
Orlando concerning the details of the
application of the principles already In.
dorsed by the Allies and the United
States
Foremost among the topics which the
President is 10 discuss and support with
the weight of his personal influence il
the league OF nations which while in
dorsed in prinSiple by many OF the for
eigr spokosmcu is still in most ncbu-
ious state, SO far as details go witt
SccptiC!srl regarding the practicabjlily o.
the idea growing vlsibly both here aui
abroad.
perfect furor has been created her.
by the announcement from the White
House late this afternoon. The upset
ting Of all precedents IN the history of
tho republic by the departure Of its Ch',4
Magistrate for Europe is only one OF the
oasons for the discussion which the
confirmation OF the rumors current in the
last week has caused,
Problems Raised by Absence.
The problem of how the nation is 20
get along even for six weeks with its
chief Executive 1900 miles or more away
across the seas and ts Congress in ses.
sion with wc!ghty Legislation on its
hands is giving even more concern to
many than this shattering OF preCedentS
Until the announcement @. tho Presi-
dents intention was issued tonight the
feeling OF a majority OF the members OF
the Senate was that -He would not under
take such a trip, There were many in
official circles who shared this opinion
But on the other hand those in closest
touch with the President and known 10
have urged him Ia go were confident
that the tlip would he made. It wa
upon these limitations conveyed by Ger
tain Cabinet officers that THE sun las,
Wednesday predicted the President
would go.
The President is understood to have
given much thought TO the matter ever
since ii became apparent that the arms,
tice would be signed by Germany, Gaze