The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-13
FIRST ACTUAL
SESSION OF
PEACE meet
HELD TODAY
Meeting Today Will Deter
mine Whether Sessions of
Peace Conference Shall be
Open or Secret.
DRAW up U. S. PLANS
(By Associated Pressl

(By Associated Press)
PARIS, Jan. 13-The first actual
| session of the peace congress is be-
| ing held today although it is officially
designated as one Of the series of con-
versations for laying the groundwork
| for the structure which will later be
presented to the formal assembly of
the delegates of all the ma tions Yes
| terday's meeting was preliminary to
today's as today's is preliminary to
tomorrow's and those of the coming
weeks and months
These conversations will take up de-
tails OF the program to be carried out
what subjects will be considered at
the meetings, the roles Of expert ad-
visors and the order in which various
matters will be considered.
Today's meeting will probably deal
with the important question of the
organization by which the peace con-
gress will function. 1t is also expected
! to make start toward a decision on
one question uppermost in the public
eye-whether the sessions will be
! under the full observation of the
world or whether they will be secret.
Local QuarreIs Secondary.
Nothing has developed to alter the
statement that the American delegates
are primarily concerned with the crea-
tion OF a league of nations and the
making of just peace. Territorial
ambitions. local quarrels and rivalry
for economic advantag 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 10 be
| laid down for the preservation of
peace.
| Reports that the American delega-
tion has agreed on working plan for
| a league of nations and that it will be
one of the first things to be laid be-
fore, the congress. have been current
in Paris. All outward evidences in Of
ficial quarters point in the other di-
| It fs known that as late as Prest
dent Wilson's return from Italy he
was not prepared to lay down a work
ing plan and that he preferred to
have other plans originating among
the entente delegates offered first. Ii
was felt that such a procedure. be-
sides having a tactical advantage,
would show desirable Difference to the
European statesmen having plans to
submit
Experts Draw up Plan.
i 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 it's own ideas.
Out of the whole it was hoped to
| frame some concrete proposition rep
resenting the best ideas of the Amer
ican delegation. These men have not
| finished their work and unless Presi-
dent Wilson without consultation has
prepared plan which he is willing to
put forward as that of the United
definitely accepted plan.
| 1t is recalled by an international
| lawyer working on the problem that
all projects of this sort are to a GER
tain extent inspired by a precedent
and that it is always desirable to
| utilize what is available from the
| work Of previous conferences which
have struggled to evolve plans to pre-
vent war. Naturally those studying
the problem turn to the proceedings
OF The Hague conferences. particular
ly the second. and 1t probably will be
found when the present peace con-
gress gets under way, that a great
deal OF the structure OF that confer
ence will be utilized. 1t is probable
that with this will be coupled the
plan Of William J. Bryan calling for a
years investigation Of disputes before
a declaration of war. This latter ia
ture is one OF the very definite things
that Mr.. Wilson is understood TO have
| in mind.
American international lawyers are
convinced that the great battle OF
wits viii! come In the discussion OF
| whether machinery is proposed to
lessen the probability OF war Not all
OF them believe that the results OF
this peace congress will make war i'm
possible but they are sanguine that
it will make armed conflicts more diff
ficult. Their principal concern is that
the structure of the agreement wheth-
er It is called a league of nations or
like The Hague conventions. in quail
flying phrases Ton popular terminology
'loopholes') which would undermine
the whole structure.
Want War Prevention.
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
machinery which will prevent war.
Upon such a determination they are
today fundamentally agreed. The bus!-
ness of conversations which began to-
day is to find common ground upon
which all ca unite for such purpose.
| Upon the further details the United
States is said to be unconcerned. fur
ther than to expect fulfiliment Of
covenants and that details of the
work shall be in agreement with the
principles already announced.
| 1t was reported some time ago that
the most that was hoped for before
Mr. Wilson's return to the United
States is general agreement on broad
principles. There is no reason now to
| change that forecast.