The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-11
DIPLOMATS WILL
BEGIN new TASK
IMMEDIATELY. is.
CAPITOL VIEW

.CAPlTOL VIEW
Washington, Nov. 11.--With the
granting of the armistice to the
beaten German armies by Marshal
Foch, the next step will be the ar
rangement for the meeting of the
peace conference which will en-
deavor to reach a settlement of the
vast issues arising from the great
world war. Beginning in August
1914, as the direct result of the
assassination OF the Heir to the
Austro- Hungarian throne, the arch
duke Francis and his consort at
Sarajevo, Basuos, by Serbian
student, more than four and a half
years of incredibly bloody strife
not be permanently adjusted for a
generation.
The armistices which have term
mated actual hostilities with the
central powers, beyond general
references to peace settlements and
guarantees for the performance of
any condition that may be dictated
by the victors, did not contain any
provisions for the assemblage of
peace delegates.
Consequently it is believed that
the diplomatic agencies will proceed
to that task at once, leaving the
military agencies to deal with such
questions as rehabilitation of the
late forces; extension of immediate
relief to the distressed civilian in
habitants, not only Of evacuated ter
ritory but even of the central powers
where there Is general distress and
disposition of the vast stores of war
material, of warships and naval
stores and finally of the closure of
munitions plants in the enemy
countries.
Early Session-Foreseen
There is every reason for holding
the gathering as soon as stable
governments can be set up in the
central powers to succeed ousted
autocracies. Vast business inter
ests are held in a state of suspense
until it is determined what is to be
the future aside from other and ur-
gent reasons, great industrial plants
used for war purposes must again be
converted to the manufacture of
staple commodities, and arrange
ments made for the return to civil
life and employment Of the millions
of soldiers lately engaged in war.
To insure a continuation of the
harmony which has characterized all
OF the diplomatic and military re-
lations of the entente powers and
America and to present a united
front in the peace conference against
their late enemies, 1t is expected
that the delegates of these countries
will get together first in private con-
ferences, to frame their own pro-
gram before any effort is made to
assemble a formal peace conference.
When Central Powers Join
Delegates from the central pow
ers will join the gathering when it
comes under severe restrictions.
Their governments already have
II peace terms and other conditions
laid down by President Wilson, and
their activities probably must be
limited to efforts to induce the
other delegates to accept Germanic
construction Of the exact meaning of
these terms. Couched as they were
in general language there is oppor-
tunity for genuine differences of
opinions as to some of the details.
But one fact must be borne in
mind. In case of any real issue be-
tween the delegations the decisions
Of. the allies and America must
revail; the representatives. Of the
defeated powers may plead and
argue but they must submit for the
simple reason the people for whom
they speak are bereft of any military
or naval resources with which to re-
new the war or to offer any physical
resistance.
Greatest in History
The coming great peace confer
ence will surpass any in history;
not only because of the tremendous
Importance of the issues with which
it must deal, but also literally in
size. Indications are that the U. S.
will be represented by
at least half a dozen principals
with a numerous body of secretaries,
counselors, translakors and clerks,
and it is assumed that even the
smallest of nations which will par
ticipate will seek to make show
In point Of numbers OF delegates.
This fact may involve the transac-
ton of most OF the business Of the
conference by selected committees
which will represent in their compo-
sition every element and whose re-
ports will come before the full con-
ference for ratification.
AS to the place of meeting there
is yet much doubt, with many
claimants for that honor. While 1t
may be urged that the conference in
some historic spot in France, objec-
ton may lie against the proposition
based on the generally accepted
view that such meetings should be,
held at a. point where they can be
quite free from the charge Of any
local influence. in other words 1t
should be held on neutral territory
and even some of that territory is
regarded as unsuitable because of
the pronounced sympathy of the
population with one side or the 9TH
err. Little Switzerland is a strong
favorite and there has been some
mention of the beautiful town of
Lausanne as an ideal meeting place,
one report being that American
agents have quietly obtained hotel
and other accommodations for the
United States delegates at that
place. But nothing is definitely
known of the location OF the meeting