The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-13
First Actual Session Is Held in
Paris Today.
One of Series To Lay Ground
work for Peace.
ORGANIZATION DETAILS FIRST
American Delegates Have {
League Outline Ready.
Conference Probably Will Use
Bryan Peace Plan.


sion of the peace congress is being
held today, altho it is officially desig
mated as one of the series of conversa
tions for laying the groundwork for
the structure which will later be pre-
sented to the formal assembly of the
delegates of all the nations.
These conversations will take up de-
tails of the program to be carried out
what subjects will be considered at
the meeting, the roles of expert ad
visers and the order in which various
matters will be considered. Today's
meeting deals with the important ques-
ton of the organization by which the
peace congress will function. 1t is
also to make a start toward a decision
on one question uppermost in the pub
lie eye-whether the sessions will be
under the full observation of the world
or whether they will be secret.
Nothing has developed to alter the
statement that the American delegates
are primarily concerned with the crea-
ton of a league of nations and the
making of just peace. Territorial
ambitions, local quarrels and rivalry
for economic advantages among the
European delegates are secondary in
the minds of the Americans, who are
concerned only with the assurance that
these details when worked out, will
square with the principles to be laid
down for the preservation of peace.
Agree On q League Plan.
! Reports that the American dele
CATION has agreed on a working plan
| for a league of nations and that 1t
will be one of the first things to be
\ laid before the congress have been
current in Paris ALI outward evi-
dences in official quarters point in
! the other direction. 1t is known that
as late as President Wilson's return
from Italy he was not prepared to
| lay down a working plan and that he
preferred to have other plans origi-
mating among the entente delegates
| offered first
| At the same time, it is known that
Mr.. Wilson has selected five men con-
nected with the American mission.
| recognized experts in international
law, to draw up a tentative plan which
| he could compare with his own ideas
| Out of the whole, it was hoped to
frame some concrete proposition pre-
senting the best ideas of the Ameri-
finished their work and unless the
president, without consultation. has
prepared a plan which he is willing to
put forward as that of the United
States there is now no such thing as
a definitely accepted plan.
Use the Bryan Plan
| Naturally, those studying the prob
lens turn to the proceedings OF The
| Hague conferences, particularly the
second, and it probably will be found
when the present peace congress gets
| underway that a great deal of the
structure of that conference will b :
utilized. 1t is probable that, with
! this will be coupled the plan of Will
| liam J. Bryan. calling for a years
| investigation of disputes before Q
declaration OF war. This Later feature
| is one of the very definite things that
Mr.. Wilson is understood to have in
mind. American international lewy ers
are convinced that the great battle of
wits will come In the discussion OF
whatever machinery is proposed to
lessen the proba bility of war. Not all
| of them believe that the results of this
peace congress will make war in
possible, but they are sanguine that it
Twill make armed conflicts more diff
cult Their principal concern is tLat
! the structure of the agreement, wheth-
er it is callei a league of nations tr
I something else, shall not be framed.
| like The Hague co lventIon. in quail
| flying phrases Gn popula terminology
| 'loophoies") which would undermine
1 the whole structure.
President Wilson and his commits
sioners are working on the theory that
Great Britain. France. Italy and the
| rest of the world want some new ma
| chinery which will prevent war. Upon
such a determination they are funda-
mentally agreed. The business of
conversation which begins today is
| find a common ground upon which
all can unite for such a purpose 1t
was reported some time ago that the
most that was hoped for before Mr..
| Wilson's return to the United States is
a general agreement on broad prin-
ciples. There is no reason now to
| change that forecast.