The sun., 1918-11-25
Lawmakers in the Upper
House Desire to BE Kept
Informed of Progress.
PRESIDENT AN ENIGMA
Wilson's Presence Abroad Is
Said to Have Been Demand
ed by Allied Premiers.
special Despatch 10 The sux.


President Wilson's peace commission
Is now the understanding of leading
Democratic Senators on the Foreign
Relations Committee. That being the
case these Senator'S with those on the
Republican side are preparing to in
sist that the President sanction q
plan by which tho Senate, which must
,atify the peace treaty. shall be kept
in closest touch with the negotiations
as they proceed.
Many Senators take the view that
this is their right as part of the
treaty making machinery of the Gov
eminent and that unless such a pisn
shall be followed grave difficulties are
likely to be encountered in obtaining
ratification OF the treaty by the
Senate.
The complete ignorance in which
even the Boreign Relations Commit
tee OF the Senate is being kept with
regard to the plans for the peace
conference and the policy which the
President is to follow there with re-
spect to the vital questions at issue
has given rise TO considerable resent
ment in the Senate, which is likely to
come TO the surface as soon as Con-
gress reassembles on the eve OF the
Presidents departure.
Hope to Get Peace Terms.
II is the general expectation OF men,
bers Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee that in the Presidents message
TO Congress he will restate some il
not all of the peace terms. Such a
restatement they hold is virtually de-
manded by reason of the changes
which have occurred since last jan
uary. changes which have already
compelled the President to make sew
eral notifications in these terms.
Should the President state Americas
stand and the Senate be in disagree
ment with this some way will be
taken Of making this known to the
President and It is the hope and ex-
pectation of members of his own party
that he will find Some means OF keep
ing In touch with the situation in the
Senate as the negotiations proceed.
This is certain to be presented to
The President before his departure.
Although there was some expecta-
ton that the Presidents plans for his
visit would be unfolded to some extent,
nothing was forthcoming to-day from
the White House.
May Issue Statement.
There were some indications to-
night, however, that some information
would be forthcoming tomorrow. 1t
n said the President is now planning
20 go on the George Washington.
which is being fitted up for large
party. This party is to include not
only the peace commissioners but a
Stsf Of experts organized by Col
House and also many members Of the
military intelligence branch of the
army, who are TO assist the commits
sion
The failure to announce the per-
sonnet of the peace commission Is
causing much surprise in view of the
rapidly approaching date of the Presi-
Tents departure.
TWO reasons are ascribed for this
one is the inability of the President
nus far to decide upon the name of
me Republican TO go upon the COM
mission. The other Is the resignation
OF Secretary McAdoo. which from all
appearance has given the President
ereat concern and confronted him with
The very difficult problem of selecting
a man to head the Treasury who can
De trusted to carry out policies in
'onsonance with those of the Admins
ration during the Presidents absence
abroad. The selection of a Director
General OF Railroads is OF almost equal
Importance.
Taft and Hughes Eliminated.
Reports even tonight were that the
PRESIDENT has not made up his mind as
|" the Republican member of the COM
mission, though there seemed 20 be
general agreement that Mr. Taft and
Mr.. Hughes had been eliminated.
Regarding the conference itself two
FEATURES stood out to-day >as of par
ucular Importance. They are:
FIrst-The fact that the preliminary
conference is TO be of more Importance
even than the formal sessions, in that
y is not only to outline the cardinal
principles TO be applied but will insure
IN advance against future disagree
ment on basic features.
Second-The. fact that the Entente
leaders are said to have informed the
PRESIDENT that his presence at this pre-
urinary conference was virtually "in-
d!spensable."
The DrcIiyoipory oonSo.nooo. IA a..
believed, will be largely among Pre-
niers Clemenceau. Lloyd George and
orlando and President Wilson. Ac-
'ording to the view here they will not
only shape the general course to be
stored with respect to all the vital
problems involved but VIII aim to
eliminate any possibility of serious
disagreement among the Powers as
ISOLATED against Germany. II har-
Inonious agreement is reached between
me four nations represented as to the
oasic features Of such questions as
freedom of the seas, a league Of ma
lions, territorial adjustments and
reparation, the manner of applying the
principles to specific cases will not
present more than minor DIFFICULTIES. ID
Is pointed out.
should there be disagreement among
the representatives OF the four Powers
on vital features. the task will be then
70 adjust differences at all cost before
attempting the difficult and hopeless
ask OF making practical. detailed ap-
phcation OF principles which have a
ainerent meaning for the nations in
volved
The chance of serious disagreement