Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-05
PRESIDENT
RECEIVED
CORDIALLY
.bYPONT|FF
Wilson Starts Back to- Paris
After Busy Day in Rome;
Will Visit Geneva,
Milan and Turin.
By Associated Press.

Rome. Jan. 4.-President Wilson
left Rome for Paris shortly after
9 o'clock tonight with the cheers of
the Roman throng that had gath
cred to witness his departure ringing
in his ears. His visit to the Italian
capital had proved the busiest of
his European trip and it was the
most demonstrative.
The presidential party is not ex-
pected to reach Paris until Tuesday
morning as the itinerary provides
for stops at Genoa, Milan and Turin.
The president is represented as
expecting, on his return to the
French capital to find the peace dele
gates up to the point of deciding
upon the first principles of the pro-
posed league of nations. thus paving
the way to the disposal of what he
regards as the necessary prelimin-
aries to the peace before his return
to the United States about the mid
die of February.
Calls Upon the Pope.
President Wilson today was re-
ceived at the Vatican by Pope Bene-
dict.
The presidents arrival was an
nounced by the master of the cham
Der to the pope, who awaited the
president in the throne room, where
two gilded arm chairs had been
placed. The president was admitted
Immediately to the presence OF the
pope, who was gowned in white.
On his way to the throne room
the president was accompanied by
a procession of Vatican servants.
AS the president entered the ante
chamber to the papal apartments
he was preceded by the pontifcal
chamberlain. Gendarmes in immense
busbys and the palatine guard and
the noble guard in their red tunics
were drawn up to greet him.
In his conversation with President
Wilson the pontiff gave expression
to identical sentiments and enlarged
upon the themes. In view of the
presidents rejection of the papal
peace offer months ago, the recep-
ton today was looked forward to
with great interest in all official cir
cles, and the warm greetings ex-
changed by president and pontiff
were commented upon with much
satisfaction here.
Looks Over Eternal City.
Before going to the Vatican the
president had his first real glimpse
of the Eternal City. An early visit
was paid to the Pantheon, where
wreaths were laid upon the tombs
of King Victor Emanuel II and
King Humbert there, and then the
presidential party motored up the
great hill overlooking Rome, where
stands the imposing monument OF
Garabaidi.
The president alighted from his
motor car and, standing bareheaded
beside the statue of the great Ital-
ian and surrounded by the ruins OF
the historic centuries, he looked
over the city lying below, crowned
by the dome of St. Peters, and with
the Vatican gardens spread out be-
fore him. In the distance the
broken columns of the old Forum
and the tumbled walls of the Coils
cum were visible.
President Wilson viewed the I'M
pressive scene silently for several
moments and then went on to the
round of his days activities.
OF these his attendance at meet
ing of the Royal Academy of science
and luncheon at the American en-
bassy came before the carrying out
of the most important part of the
program for today.
Pope Talks With Reporters.
While these earlier functions were
IN progress PoNe Benedict was CIV
ing audience to delegation OF
newspapermen to whom
he expressed the greatest hopes for
a lasting peace, his appreciation of
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