The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-26
THREE SESSIONS OF
 PEACE CONFERENCE
 MAY BE NECESSARY
First Thing Disposed of Will Be DictatiOn of Peace
 Terms to Germany

Washington, November 25.-(Special..
 There may be three sessions of the peace commission, a preliminary, at which a programme will be discussed a formal, in which terms will be agreed upon and dictated to Germany, and a subsequent at which problems growing out of the great war and which will
 have their bearing on the future, will be solved
 Agreement to this effect has not been reached It is learned, however, that France is anxious that peace be restored at the earliest possible moment and that inordinate delay be not indulged as a result of discussion of problems which cannot in compara- lively short time be determined. If the entire situation is cleared up in one session. that session will be pro- longed even until summer, it is appar- ently certain.
 At the preliminary conference the programme will be determined. In all probability it is said in Washington. the programme will be limited to the dictation of terms to Germany. In the preliminary discussion. secret diplom- acy will be considered, for the mem bers of the conference must agree as to whether or not the peace table pro- ceedngs shall be held behind closed doors or open to the public.
 Tn the formal conference 17 points will be considered, it is now indicated. These points deal with everything from the encouragement of boundaries to the fixing of indemnity. When these points are settled, the commission will be ready to take up the league of na- tions's and economic equality" The idea prevails that these points, re- garding which the allies have not agreed tentatively, will be made sub ject of q subsequent session to which all nations, including those with which the allied governments were formerly at war will be invited.
 The 'league of nations" Is the con- ception of the President of the Uni. ted States. He would have all "honor- able governments banded together behind an army to which each shall contribute an integral perhaps an equal part--an army which shall serve to subdue any nation preparing fof war, and which, by it's might, shall SC to it that all treaties are observed to the letter The problem involving the league of nations has two corol- laries, The first is disarmamentl--and no two nations cannot agree at pres ent to what extent the world should strip itself of it's fighting material on land and sea. England will not, it is said, reduce itsNnavy. The second corollary is freedom of the seas.' Not only cannot nations agree re- garding freedom of the seas" at the present time but there is no distinct understanding as to the exact meaning of that term. At any rate, this prob lem is so intricate that if it is ever satisfactorily solved great length or time must of necessity be consumed.
 "Economic equality" is apother sub ject of very great import to every ma ton of the world. Under that title. the nations will agree as to whether or not it would be advisable for each nation. whether operated under laws providing free trade" protection or tariff for revenue only" to ap- ply its laws against all other nations without discrimination. In other words shall the United States, ili trade. be more generous with France, England and Italy than with Ger many?
 The peace conference it may readS ily be observed. will shape the destiny of the world for the next 100 years.