The Bourbon news., 1919-01-14
THE PRESIDENTS CONFERENCES
WITH PREMIERS DELAYED.

PARIS, jan 13.-President Will
sons conferences with the premiers
of Great Britain, France and Italy,
which were to open Thursday have
been delayed and probably will not
been delayed and probaly will
begin some day this week.
Mr.. Lloyd George is detained in
reconstruction of his cabinet. Premier
Orlsndo, of Italy, who is due here
today, will probably return to Rome
where his presence for forty eight
hours is necessary because of matters
under consideration by the Italian
parliament.
There was, however, meeting To-
day ut the office of Stephen Plchon,
foreign minister. 1t was attended by
Mr.. Wilson, Premier Orlando and the
japanese representatives, but it was
informal because of the absence of
Mr.. Lloyd George, altho the British
representatives were present. 1t was
considered best to hold the meeting
and clear up some preliminary points
and it is believed that important de-
tails of procedure will be settled. If
this is done the delegates will be in
position, when Mr.. Lloyd George
arrives, to rapidly complet ethe pre-
liminary work and clear up matters
for the opening conferences on Mon
day and Tuesday.
1t is not expected there will be
long debate at the conferences, the
morning newspapers saying that the
French government communicated to
the Entente Powers some days ago a
complete plan of work, amounting to
a suggestion of a coordinated pro-
gram.
AS regards questions concerning
enemy countries it is understood that
those concerning Germany will be
taken up first, then those of Austria
Hungary, and finally those relative to
Bulgaria and Turkey. These details
will probably not be decided upon
until the league of nations part of the
program has been exhausted, how
ever.
1t is not expected that the premiers'
conference with Mr.. Wilson acting
as Americas premier), will deal with
more than the most general principles
of the peace settlement. In fact, il
now seems doubtful if more than q
broad, general agreement will be
reached before President Wilson re-
turns to America in February.
Out of the coming conferences, II
is expected that a more or less tenta
tive program will be adopted which
divides the work of the peace congress
into successive steps. The actua
making of peace with the Contra
Powers may be the last of these steps
The procedure now being discussed
is, roughly, as follows,
First, a general agreement be
tween the United States and thu
Entente belligerents for the creation
of league of nations, or similal
machinery, to enforce the terms o.
peace and preserve it.
Second, the settling up of new in
dependent States growing out of th'
war.
, Third. the assessment of damage
and indemnities and the manner O.
their payment.
Fourth, the conclusion of peac
treaties with the Central Powers.
, The peace treaties may be left t
the last because none of the agree
ments can bind the Central Power
unless, in the meantime, they satif
the peace congress as to their stabilit
. and purpose of carrying out tn
treaties made.
At this point arises the question o
how long the peace congress will wal
for the Central Powers to arrang
their governments. It is pointed ou
by some of those working on the prot
lem that neither Germany nor Amel
ica can complete their governments
machinery until it is determine
what the two peoples desire in tn
matter. It is of course, depender
largely on the peace congress, but
is not expected that the congress wi
wait indefinitely for the Central En-
pifes to prepare themselves for a
agreement.
There is always the possibility tn;
if no responsible governments appes
to give assurance that obligation
untertaken will be carried out, Il
nations represented at the congre
could give notice that it would b
come necessary, at certain points,
assist in the formation of order
governments and at the same tin
begin to collect revenues to apply {
the bill of damages.
Such action, if taken at all, wou
be only a last resort, but if taken Il
question would arise as to how f
the United States would participat
No official outline has been made
show what the United States wou
agree to do in carrying out such ;
undertaking, if it should becor
necessary, but some of those best
formed as to the lines along viii
Mr.. Wilson and the peace comm
sioners are working believe that
is the purpose of the United Stat
go no further into the readjustme
of European affairs than to secu
general adherence to the principl