The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-17
President VIII Eat Christ
mas Dinner With Troops
In Germany
WILL REVIEW ARMY
In PARIS LATER
Believed To Be Paving
Way For Plain Speak
ing At Peace Table
(By Associated Press.S


Paris, Monday. Dec. 1s.-After the
conferences he has had in Paris and
the personal examination he haa
made into the situation here, Presi-
dent Wilson has como to understand
fully why the peace conference cans
not get under way before the arst Of
the year. The mere physical prop-
osition of getting the American
members 10 the conference settled ia
offices is a tremendous Job. The
Presidents visit TO the troops ana
his review of them in Paris. that arc
planned. viii be entirely out or the
way by the first OF the year. Mean
while the informal conferences which
mean SO much and decide so much
in laying the groundwork for such a
task as is before the peace CONFER
ence, viii continue 10 make nror-
ress. The President is seeking ia
get acquainted with the men with
whom he has to deal so that he may
discuss with the greatest freedom the
problems arising and develop the
Value OF the personal equation.
Plain Things To Say.
From the Presidents point OF
view. it is indicated, there are plain
things to be said, and he wants 20
say them and avoid antagonisma be-
cause, Notwithstanding ali the
points TO be cleared up and rpon
which wide Emergencies OF opinion
have been expressed as representing
public opinion in England and
France, the President is confident
that an acceptable agreement VIII be
reached before the peace conferences
adJcurns. 1t is recalled that diplo-
matte history shows that conferences
of this kind, usually if not tnyarI-
ably assembled without definite pro-
grams TO work with and that such
conferences never accomplish pre-
cisely, down TO the last details, what
is expected of them, but that they
always accomplish something. The
Americans familiar with the history
OF diplomacy who are attending this
conference are convinced that lt will
be no exception to the s1iIe.
Working Out His Plans.
While things arc shaping up for
the great gathering, President Will
son is evidently working ont his own
plans He was exceedingly gratihed
with his visit TO Premier Clemen-
ceau which was largely a personal
AFFAIR. The President told the prem
Ter some of his best anecdotes and
It is said the French minister formed
q very high idea OF the Presidents
sense of humor.
President Wilson'S health con-
shaken or the cold which followed
him to Europe. With Mrs. Wilson
and Rear Admiral Gary +. GaFyson.
his medical adviser, he probahly Will
take turn on the golf links at YER
sailles the first pleasant morning
that comes along. He is keeping In
the closest touch with affairs ia
the United States through advices
from the White House, from mem
bers OF the cabinet and the heads OF
some of the special war bureaus.
Christmas With Troops.
President Wilson win leave Paris
Christmas eve and go to American
general headquarters. From head
quarters he will proceed to the
American front. He will have Christ
mas dinner with the American
troops, and not with the American
commander -in-chief or other of
GERS.
1t would seem evident that fl IS
the purpose OF President Wilson to
have Christmas dinner on German
territory in the region Of CobIenz
with the American forces OF occupa-
tion.
Monsignor cerreti, papal under
secretary Of state, who is IN Paris
on his way to the United States to
I'm the jubilee ceIebra-
ton OF Cardinal Gibbons, Will call
on Colonel z. NJ. House today To
make arrangements TO be received
by President Wilson. He will nfa-
sent the President with an auto
graph letter from Pope Benedict and
will discuss arrangements for the
visit to the Pope during the Presi-
dents stay in Rome.
Secretary Of State Lansing was
IN conference this morning with a
1umber OF members OF the American
delegation to the peace conferences
IN an effort to organize the working
force The secretary met each in
iivfdual separately and began fia
assignment of duties to the various
members Of the American group.
Secretary Lansing said that 1t was
clearly impossible TO do anything
more than this preliminary work.
such as the organization Of separate
inits, before the holidays, although
here might be and probably would
,e informal conversations between
he American and entente delegates
20 the congress as they met So
,ially and unofacially.
Al a