New-York tribune., 1918-12-22

no strong enemy on the sea, England
would not require a great fleet, as she
could protect her distant possessions
by troops transported on armed trans
ports.
This, however, is only one of the
plans advanced to open the discussion
and develop the views of other powers.
Dimes at British Embassy
Outside of his conference with the
Italian statesmen, President Wilson's
only engagement to-day was at the
Sorbonne for the ceremony incident
to the bestowal OF an honorary degree.
In the evening he dined at the British
Embassy.
Mrs. Wilson to-day went about the
streets of Paris afoot for the first
time, looking into the shop windows
and ming ing with the crowds making
thclI purchases.
Confident of Just Peace
Confidence that the peace conference
would be abe to reach "a just and
reasonable solution" of the prob ems
before it was expressed by President
WI. son in an interview given here yes
terday to a correspondent of THE Lon
don Times" The President appealed
for the cooperation of the best minds
OF the navlons concerned In arriving at
a Just settlement, and indicated that
unity of action by the two great Anglo
Saxon countries would go long way
toward the protection and security of
democracy and peace.
The opening part of the interview
was printed in The Tribune yesterday
| The remainder follows:
"The President has fixed an hour to
receive me, and rather than depart
from his rule of punctuality he cur
tailed his inspection Of American head
quarters at the Hotel Crillon fol-
lowed the President to the charming
Prince Murat President Wilson WEI
coined me and conducted me to the
room where he does the most of his
work.
Many Topics Discussed
"Our talk led US over many topics
some grave and some gay. He is by
far the best teller of anecdotes I have
ever heard. RE told story about the
the problem Of governing their Irish
population, by letting the Irish police
them. When the conversation touch &c
upon the great qlestions of the peace
conference the Presidents smile re-
manned in allegiance. 1t is not as :
master that he has come to Europe
4 The first topic he touched upon was
the contrast between the Congress OF
Vienna. which has caused so much evil
in the world, and the Congress of Yer
sailles, which, the world hopes, will
eight old wrongs.
81 told the President that some peo-
pie were asking why the President
of the United States should come to
Europe at this time. Mr.. Wilson re
Piled; TO me the answer seems very
obvious
i" The issues which must be deter
mined at the coming conference are OF
such overwhelming Importance that the
United States cannot refuse to share
with the Allies their great response
bility to civilizaton,' he continued 1T
is only by the most frank personal
counsel with the statesmen Of Allied
countries that | can in some measure
assist in the solution of these prob
lens
The Great Purpose
"When l asked the President what
in his mind was the great purpose OF
the conference, and the great goac
toward which the delegates shoule
strive, he replied:
" 4 think the plain man on the stree
could answer that question as we'll as
/. The plain people of all nations ar,
now looking with anxious expectation
toward Versailler, and l am sure the,
are asking themselves this one ques
ton, "Will there be found enough wis
dom among the statesmen there as
sembled to create safeguards agains
future wars % Difficulties and respon
slbiAtles, some Of them very urgen
and dressing. which We're nresantnd b,