The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-14
Is Said to Have Open Mind in Regard to Attend ing the Peace
 Conference
ADVISERS DECLARE THAT ATTENDANCE
 UNNECESSARY RISK
Weight of Heavy Tasks Connected With U. s. Participation in Con- ference Will Fall Upon
 Secretary Lansing

Washington, November 13. President Wilson was said to- day to have given no indica- tion as to now he regards the suggestion from high sources in Europe that he attend the great conference which is to re- establish the peace of War torn world.
 Most of the Presidents advisers, how ever, are understood to consider that ac- ceptance of the invitations would involve needless risk and would serve pur- pose that could not be accomplished through the delegates who will be ap- pointed to represent the American gov | ernment and who will be in constant | communication with Washington. | Should the President decide to attend
 the conference and some of those usu- l ally well informed, say he has an open mind on the subjeet-that point would
 not mean, in the belief here. that Secre- I tary Lansing would not be member Of
 the American delegation. It was said that upon Atr. Lansing would fall much of the weight of the heavy tasks con nected with American participation in the conference, not only by virtue or his high rank, but also because of his wide experlence in other international
 conferences and arbitrations.
 SOLE PROPOSAL DELAYED
 The proposal of pr. Solf, the German
 foreign secretary, for a preliminary
 peace conference has not reached Wash
 ington in official form tonight, but it is
 understood that there is 'itt'
 ity of it's rc&er st
 is regard, aef aseessa
 likely to s 6e.aplleate sse ee
 of. the gsrss cenlfs wa held.
 Ostensibs IT. soifs proposal is based upon the urgent need of Germany for
 food and other supplies. but it is pointed
 out that these conditions will be dealt !, with by the United States and the allies in advance of the peace conference un-
 der the general pledges contained in the t armistice and given by the supreme war council at Versailles
 ' Further assurance on this subject IS
 given the German government by Sec
 retary Lansing, who in a note handed
 today to the Swiss minister in reply to one from Frederich Ebert, the German chancellor, said the President is ready e to consider favorably the supplying of t foodstuffs to Germany and to take up t the matter with the allied governments I upon assurances that public order will q be maintained in Germany and an equi- U table distribution of the food Is guaran- 7 teed
 d PLAYING FOR SPEED n In some quarters here it is suspected
 that Dr. solfs real purpose is to have r the preliminary conference dispose of po- y litical matters, such as the future '- of the German colonies and trade
 relations between the central powers d and the nations with which they had j. been at war in the hope of being able F thus speedily to re-estabfish German for e eign trade.
 All of the old treaties of amity and
 commerce under which international ' trade has been conducted between the
 warning nations automatically have been 1 destroyed by the war and it will be m necessary to provide a whole new fabric s- of trade treaties. The peace conference may signify it's ideas as to how : these shall be framed, but it will remain 2, for the individual nations to give these s ideas concrete form in special treaties, h. PROGRAMME PREPARED " The supreme war council in Versailles ie did more than consider the subject ot ie armistice and it is now learned that for 2, a long time preceding the final collapse ..i of the central powers, much study and to attention was given to the subject oi final peace in all of it's ramhcations -, | Therefore when the peace conference ~ meets it will find before 1t q fully well s digested programme for the conduct oi ~ a it's business, calculated to keep the ses- v sions we'll within bounds, nof only i \ the matter of expenditure of time, but < also in the range of subjects to be ais lv cussed
 Y Owing to the number of questions te II be considered and the amount or orisi- .it nal investigation required to arrang' ,a final settlements of many of them, t is a+ expected that soon after convening, ths . peace conference will divide the dele to gates into number of subcommittee ha to deal with difficult branches of ths n- work, and it Is regarded here as certali , l" that 1t will provide for the appointment
 of permanent commissions to sit afte
 final adjournment of the conference t'
 perform the score of things tsat mus an De done to set the commercial and eco x homie machinery of the world at wori T, again A long ume--not months bu " years-will be required to readJust tni e. machinery. One high official said todal ge it was a safe rule, based on history, | b. assume that it will require twice q ot much time to get out Of the war as
 .I;d tn eo through with it.