The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-08
IDEAS 0F
LEADERS
EXCHANGED
Premier Clemenceau and Presi-
dent Wilson Meet in Con-
ference Over Conflict
ing Views.>
NEAR UNDERSTANDING
Balance Of Power and League Of Ma
tions are TWO Points Upon
Which Agreement 10
NEAR UNDERSTANDING
lBy Robert J. Bender, United Press
Staff CorresDondent

lBy Robert ]. Bender, United Press
STAFF Correspondent
PARIS, Jan. S-Premter Clemenseau
and President Wilson were believed
today to be approaching some under
standing regarding their apparently
conflicting views on the balance OF
power and the league of nations.
The two leaders certainly had an op-
portunity to. exchange views In this
matter as result Of their unexpected
meeting late yesterday in the Offices
|of Colonel House.
Great interest is attached to this
meeting, and It was the flrst time
|Clemenceau and Wilson had met
since the formers frank declaration
lin favor OF the returning of the bal
|ance Of power and the lattNr's stimuli
|taneous statement in Manchester that
this ancient institution must give way
to the league of nationsf American
circles have all along held the opinion
that the divergence in Clemenceaus
and Wilson'S views was more appar-
working toward the same end, only
along different channels.
The meeting took place in the hotel
from the Murat palace to the hotel
in a drizzle OF rain He was accom-
panied only by secret service men and
was wholly unrecognized by the pub
lie Clemenceau had gone to the hotel
to see colonel House. While the
meeting was wholly unplanned, it is
believed to have anticipated by only
a few hours scheduled conference
between the two leaders.
The president feels that his trips
to England and Italy have fully pre-
pared him for the important con-
ferences with allied leaders, sched-
uled for the week end.
While nothing final was deter
mined, the recent conversations with
suited in the thresning out of per-
picking problems connected with
application of his fourteen princi-
pies. to which the. allies are all
bound and from which none Is ex-
pected to recede.
The latest plan is for the indi-
vidlial conferences among the asso-
ciated 2owers to continue for ten
days or a. fortnight, after which
America, Great Britain, France and
Italy will begin their formal sittings
together. at which such questions as
Of the central powers,
Russia and the other nations at the
general peace congress VIII pc
taken up. The allied conference
would then develop by calling in
Belgium, Portugal and other small
members of the associated powers
until tne conference was complete.
In addition to the league of ma
tions. the matter of indemnities,
and control of waterways
would be subjects for early consid-
Grafton.
President Wilson still hopes for
early formation of the league of ma
tions for the purpose Of facilitating |
the rapid clearing up of dependent !,
questions One course for formation |
of the league believed to have re- !
ceived favorable consideration was !,
of a nucleus of the
league from the allied belligerents |
to be followed by a proffer OF mem
bership of all self governing nations,
with agreement on
the general principles of reduction !
Of ornaments, arbitration, etc. These /
problems would be worked out and |
applied later by the league itself. i
thus removing such questions from
he province of the peace conference.
Enemy powers would not be admit
led to full membership until they
had demonstrated their worthiness.
Meanwhile they would be on 'proba-
ion and would receive all possible t
assistance from the league. Their
position would be somewhat as
hough they had been proposed for L
membership in club. They would
,njoy most of the privileges. with
(Continusd on page ~