Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-01-08
FACTS AND COMMENT

trip has been one long ovation. OF
former Presidents Grant and Roosevelt
alone had made trips abroad, but these
were after they had retired from Of
fee. Taft had a wonderful trip around
the world on his return from the Phil
ippines, but that was before his pres
idency. It has remained for Woodrow
Wilson to receive the greetings of the
monarchs of the old world to the
president of the new.
Even Paris, the city of fetes and
pageantry, never accorded anybody
such a welcome as greeted President
Wilson the morning of Dec. 14th The
boulevards were lined with people so
much SO that their latest decorations,
the hundreds of captured German can
non, were entirely hidden from view.
The statue of Strassbourg in the Place
de la Concorde, that had worn the
badges of mourning ever since the loss
of Alsace in 1871, was black with peo-
pie, and from the very head of one
man waved the American flag. To the
Parisians the president represented the
country that had saved them from
deadly peril, and to him they express
ed their gratitude by every means in
their power.
The stay in Paris was not all ban
QutlS anu Ii4uI1lptldl progresses. De
tween the functions and displays by
which Paris sought to do him honor,
the president spent hours in confer
ence with President Poincare, Premier
Clemenceau, Vnizelos, PRIMER of
Greece, the man who had brought
about the deposition of King Con-
stantine, King Victor Emanuel of
| Italy, together with Premier Orlando
and the Italian Foreign Minister Baron
Sonino. With all of these leaders of
European thought and action the pres
! ident had opportunities TO exchange
! views on the all-important matters
/ that must come before the peace con-
| ference. On his departure from Paris
| for the American front there was left
q most favorable impression of the
presidents clearsightedness fairness
| and oDenness to conviction.
| After spending Christmas day with
| the American troops at Chaumont, the
| president took train for Calais. whence
he proceeded direct to London. The
! same enthusiastic welcome was wait
| ing for him there from the moment
| that King George and Queen Mary
met him at Charing Cross station unit
his departure three days later. II
| England of course it was with The
King, oyd-George and Balfour tina
most of the conferences were held
At Manchester, where a stop overnight
was made, the president uttered VIVA
may prove to be the most significan
note that has vet been heard He said
The United States will Join no com
bination of powers which is not a com
bination of al Of us" This though
should remove from the range of an
prehension the idea that America viii
neglect the advice of George Washing
ton by attaching herself TO any foreign
power unTE. the terms of an old-tim
alliance. 4 does state what is the hop
of 70 N t;lat America may be an ac
tivo - 0her of a world alliance who's
o" W. De tllLorEeln e., OF the prln
oiI,ls5 81 justice iu Ii'eio y loi d
peopieS'
Nel" Years day thc presder
started for Rome where another won
derfpy welcome was awaiting him. out
riyalirc IN fact the hearty Italian wei
come given their own king. A form
; 81 visit to the vatican was made a
: which the whole nontifriaI. court wa
present in al the spler!dor Of the
historic regatta. and tn ,ore vie
with the king in showing admiratio
: for the unusual guest and The grae
l country that he represented. Re
2 turning to Paris the Dvpci0p0t wi
take mn The serious work of the DeaC
, conference. Tho date OF 1l7ie has M
been Jefniteiz.. set nor is if as vet do
= ! ter10incd what nations shall sit ne
! the number Of representatives eac
u nation is to send Five seems to be Il
S number that will represent the foI
= greater allies Great Britain Franc
g Italy ana the United States. 4
r Germany is torn asunder by her di
fercDt brands Of socialists and no
shevisn spreads its way westwar
! the call IS the more IMPERATIVE for Il
u peace conference to NEE without d,
l2$ ana SET 'tSy'
i The arn7istice of November II tn
= was to last thirty DAYS with privile,
9 of extension at the mutual agreeme
l. Of the parties thereto has been pr
G Ionred to January II. Added to if
r the stipulation that the allies NAV o
e oupv the six-miIe strip on the rig
n bank OF the Rhine if they deem
q necessary. This strip of country i
Z, cIudes the great coal and iron ca
y. t,r, Of Dusseldorf Duisherr and Nh
10 holm and reaches within six mil
J of +be great Krunn works At F,sse
lie The nronosit,on for tha Cccunation
n this territory came from lie man
IS factl1rnrs of the distrirr whose ore
" plants would be at the mercy of rio
% ers. should any such ins,1rrecfI1I
= occur in the Rhine country as are ia