New-York tribune., 1918-11-19
Wilson's Aid Offered Solve Peace Table Problems

have been accepted by both the asso-
ciated nations and the Central Powers
as the basis upon which peace is to be
reestablished. and it is understood
that it is for the working out of the
application of these principles that
mis- presence is so earnestly desired BY
the Allied statesmen.
Since the President is to sail for
France early next month. 1T seems GER
tain that he will reach Paris several
weeks before the peace congress as
sembles. His purpose is believed here
TO be to participate in the conference
now proceeding at Versailles as the
preliminary to the meeting of the
peace commissioners. He thus Will
nave the opportunity to discharge in
person for the first time the duties OF
his membership in the Supreme War
Council, in which he is now represented
by Colonel E. NJ. House.
In the general view here, the ses-
sions of the Supreme War Council,
which bring together the Entente Pre-
miers with the representatives of the
United States, are Of first Importance.
for in all probability it will be at these
sessions that the general programme
will be arranged.
The President will attend the open
ing sessions OF the congress, at which
the broad principles of the treaty will
be settled. but he will not remain for
the subsequent detailed discussions and
settlements OF the various questions.
This will be the work of the commits
sioners he soon is to name to represent
the United States
BY carrying out this unusual pro-
gramme of having the conference draft
and adopt general peace treaty at
the outset, the President and the En-
tente Premiers will be able, soon after
the commissioners assemble, to return
TO their own countries and attend i'm
portant business at home.
TO Continue as Executive
Since the suggestion that the Presi-
dent attend the peace conference first
was made there has been much discus
sion here as to whether while absent
from the country, he would continue
to act AS President. The Constitution
itself is silent on the question, and gem
orally the question is regarded as one
which the President himself must de-
eide.
The prevailing opinion here is that
Mr.. Wilson already has made up his
mind on this subject. He does not go
TO the peace conference as q delegate,
and consequently it is held that, should
he relinquish his authority and func-
tions of Office, he would be without
power to act for the United States in
the discussions.
There is ample precedent for the
President to leave the territorial limits
of the United States. President Har-
rison on one occasion went into Can
ada and President Taft visited both
that country and Mexico. President
Roosevelt and President Taft visited
the Panama Canal Zone.
Both President Taft and President
Roosevelt continued to perform the
functions of their Office while on the
visits to the Canal Zone. sending in
structions to Washington both by cable
and wireless. 1t was pointed out to-day
that the President could in this man
ner attend to any pressing matters of
Importance here while he is abroad.
In all probability the President will
cross the Atlantic on an American
battleship. probably on one of the
navy's newest dreadnoughts. While on
such a ship, it is claimed, he is on
American territory, and technically