Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-09
(By The Associated Press)

Paris, Jan. 9.--PreSlQenC WILSON
conferences with the premiers of
Great Britain. France and Italy which
were to open today have been delayed
and probably will not begin before
early next week.
Mr. Lloyd George is detained in
London and Premier Orlando of Italy
who is due here today, will probably
return to Rome. v
There will, however. be- a meeting
today at the Office of M. Pichon, for
eign minister 1t will be attended by
Mr.. Wilson, Premier Orlando and
Japanese representatives. but It WILL
be informal because of the absence of
Mr.. Lloyd George
The delegates will then be in a po-
sition, when Mr.. Lloyd George ar
rives, to complete the preliminary
work for the opening conferences on
Monday and Tuesday.
Importance is attached to the meet
ing of the French cabinet today for
it is probable that President Poincare
will nominate the French delegates to
the peace conference.
Referring to the conferences as be-
ing between the chiefs of the Entente
governments, the best Informed
French sources say that it is nothing
more or less than meeting
a last-of the higher Allied war COM
mittee. 1t is pointed out that the
committee in question will be COM
posed of the premiers and foreign
ministers of the Allies, Mr.. Wilson
figuring as American premier.
It is not expected there will be
long debate at the conferences.
Nation League to Come First.
AS regards questions concerning
enemy countries, it is understood that
those concerning Germany will be
taken up first: then those of Austro-
Hungary and finally those relative to
Bulgaria and Turkey. These details
til the league of nations part of .the
program has been exhausted however.
It is not expected that the prentier's
conference will deal with more than
the most general principles Of the
peace settlement. In fact. it now
seems doubtful if more than a broad,
general agreement will be reached
before President Wilson returns to
America in February. Out of the
coming conferences it is expected that
a more or less tentative program will
work of the peace congress into sue
cessive steps. The. actual making Of
peace with the Central powers may be
the last of these steps.
The procedure now being discussed
is roughly as follows:
First, general agreement between
the United States and the Entente bel
ligerents for the creation of a league
of nations, Or similar machinery, to
enforce the terms of peace and pre-
serve it.
Second, the setting up of new inde-
pendent states growing out Of the
war. te
Third, the assessment Of damages
and indemnities and the manner of
their payment.
Fourth, the conclusion Of peace
treaties with the Central powers.
Wait for Staple Government.
The peace treaties may be left to
the last because none of the agree
menta can bind the Central powers
unless, in the meantime, they have
established governments which salts
fy the peace congress as to their sta
bility and purpose of carrying out the
treaties made.
At this point arises the question OF
how long the peace congress will wait
for the Central powers to arrange
their governments 1t is pointed out
by some Of those working on the
problem that neither Germany nor
Austria can complete their govern
mental machinery until 1t is deter
mined what the two peoples desire in
this matter.
There is always the possibility that
if no responsible governments appear
to give assurance that obligations un-
dertaken will be carried out the ma
tions represented at the congress
could give notice that it would become
necessary, at certain points; to assist
in the formation of orderly govern
ments and at the same time begin to
collect revenues to apply on the bill
Of damages.
Such action If taken, would be only
a last resort No official outline has
been made to show what the United
States would agree. to do in carrying
out such an undertaking but some OF
the best informed as to the lines
along which Mr.. Wilson and the
peace commissioners are working be-
lieve that it is the purpose Aof the
United States to go no further into
the readjustment Of European affairs
than to secure general adherence tc
the principles already laid down by
President Wilson.