Middletown transcript., 1918-11-16

Washington.-With the granting of
the armistice to the beaten German
armies by Marshal Foch the next step
will be the arrangement for the meet
ing of the peace conference, which will
endeavor to reach permanent settle
n,ent of the vast issues arising from
the great world war.
Beginning in August, 1914, as the
direct result of the assassination of
the heir to the Austro- Hungarian
throne, the Archduke Francis, and his
cOnsort at SarajevO, Bosnia, by Ser
bian student, more than four and a
half years of incredibly bloody strife
have developed problems that may not
be permanently adjusted for a gener-
alton.
The armistices which have termin-
ated actual hostilities with the Central
Powers. beyond general references to
peace settlements and guarantees for
the performance Of any condition that
may be dictated by the victors, did not
contain any provision for the assem-
bling of peace delegates. Consequently
it is believed that the diplomatic agen-
cies will proceed to that task at once,
leaving the military agencies to deal
with such questions as rehabilitation
Of the late enemy forces, extension of
lot soE 10 -.
ilian inhabitants, not only of evacu-
ated territory, but even Of the Cen
trail Powers, where there is general
distress, and disposition of the vast
stores Of war material, of warships
and naval stores, and finally Of the
closure of munition plants in the en-
envy countries, will proceed immedi-
ately with the plans for the peace con.
ference
There is every reason for holding
the gathering as soon as stable gov
ernments can be set up in the Central
Powers to succeed Ousted autocracies.
Vast business interests are held in
state Of suspense until it is deter
mined what is to be the future. Aside
from other urgent reasons, great in
dustrial plants used for war purposes
must again be converted to the manu-
facture of staple commodities and ar
engagements made for the return to
civil life and employment of the mil
lions of soldiers lately engaged in war;
In order to insure continuation of
the harmony which has characterized
all of the diplomatic and military re-
lat1ons of the Entente Powers and
America and to present uaited front
in the peace conference against their
late enemies, it is expected that the
delegates of these countries will get
together first in private conferences,
in order to frame their own program
before any effort is made to assemble
a formal peace conference.
Delegates from the Central powers will
join the gathering when it comes under
severe restrictions. Their governments
already have solemnly engaged tc be
bound by the IA peace terms and other
conditions laid down by President Will
son, and their activities must be linn
tied to efforts to induce the other dele
gates to accept Germanic construction
Of the exact meaning of these terms.
Couched as they were in general Ian
guage, there is opportunity for genu-
inc differences of opinion as to some
of the details.
But one fact must be borne in mind
In case of any real issue between the
delegations the decisions of the dele
gates of the Allies and America must
prevail; the representatives of the de-
feated powers may plead and argue,
but they must submit for the simple
reason the people for whom they speak
are bereft of any military or naval re-
sources with which to renew the war
or to offer any physical resistance.
The coming great peace conference
will surpass any in history, not only
because OF the tremendous import
ance of the issues with which It must
deal, but also literally in size. Indi-
cations are that the United States
Government will be represented by at
least half dozen principals, with a
numerous body of secretaries. coun-
selors. translators and clerks, and it is
assumed that even the smallest of the
nations which will participate will
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