Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-10


Paris, Jan. lo-After nearly a month
of waiting and preparation. converse
lions which lay the foundations of the
actual peace congress are 4bout to
start. American delegates feel that .
great deal Of progress might have been
made before now if a full representation
cf the nations allied against Germany
had arrived promptly.
Suggestions have been made that the
French and American delegates go
ahead while awaiting the arrival Of the
British plenipotentiAries. who are now
expected on Saturday President Will
son. however, vetoed that plan, holding
that inasmuch as there has already
been so long delay it would be best
10 wait 4 little longer to secure the
participation Of the British.
Many of the principal questions to
be thrashed in preliminary conferences
concern most intimately the United
States, Great Britain and France. and
there is some hope Of fair headway
. being made while awaiting the official
announcement OF the full italian dele
cation and the arrival of the Japanese
representatives.
The Belgians will arrive next week.
but Of course they are in the status OF
minor belligerents. They have taken
over one Of the largest hotels in Paris.
Wilson to inform Congress.
The first few conferences between
the Americans, French and British
probably will develop just how much
progress may be expected before Presi-
cent Wilson goes home next month.
II is settled that when ne reaches
America one Of his first acts will be
TO address congress and give a report
on what has been accomplished.
Some trained diplomats among the
Americans are agreed that the most
Mr.. Wilson can hope to report prob
ably will be general undertaking Of
the widest sort upon a set Of principles
which must be left to be applied by the
peace congress.
President Wilson hopes to be able to
do more. but unless something unex-
Fected happens it seems probable that
physical conditions alone will prevent
the accomplishment Of more during the
remaining six weeks Of his stay.
MUCH Preliminary Work.
Each OF the hodies OF peace commits
soners will necessarily 90 thru AN or
Ganization process. This work has
taken the Americans a month, and even
row they are only partially ready. The
French OF course, have their organiza-
ton on the spot.
The British have brought over from
England highly developed machine
which is virtually ready to function.
Even the elevator conductors and port
ers are men who have been tested out
in the service of the British govern
ment and whose dependence has been
established.
The Japanese will have to organ
lie. after reaching here, as will the Bel
.,ians and other minor belligerents.
Wilson on Job too Early.
These very essential preliminaries
will not necessarily delay the informal
conversations but they will. in a meas
use. delay. the working Of "'groUp plan"
conferences by which the principal bel
liSerents expect to thrash out points
with interested neutral non -belligerents
or minor nations engaged in the war
and reduce their results to memoranda
which are to 70 to the peace congress
for inclusion in the final settlement
President Wilson's feeling on coming
to Europe as early as he did was that
all the entente governments had made
their preparations to get down to talk
ing peace. It is not an overstatement
Of the case to say that Mr.. Wilson and
The American commissioners have been
disappointed in meeting with delays.
United States Wants Moro Speed.
Various elements are recognized by
diplomats here as reasons for deferring
the start toward peace, but it seems
plain that the influence Of the United
states is about to be exerted for steps
which without further delay will permit
start on the busines Of returning the
world to q peace basis.
The American delegates are under
stood to feel very strongly that unless
h plans are made to permit activities OF
peace to be resumed in warning coun-
~ tries, tl1e rehabilitation OF their armies
1nay bring unwelcome problems
.A The return Of Mr.. Wilson to the
United States will reduce the American
delegation to four, but 1t was explained
today that delegations will vote as
units, and that the president never had
intended to sit continuously at the
peace table. Up to the present all the
s progress that has been made4has been
/ in President wilson's conferences with
Frsnch. British and Italian statesmen.