New-York tribune., 1919-01-20
Only Five Major Nations
at All Sessions; Others
to Attend When Called
Lansing Is Made
A Vice-Presiden
Full Rules Are Drafted
for Procedure and Pre-.
cedence of Delegations

PARIS, Jan. 10 (By The Associated
Press. THE peace conference, to all
outward appearance, rested to-day.
Tom orrow morning the representa-
tivcs of the five principal powers will
meet to continue the informal delibera-
tions which they abandoned on Friday.
No date has been set for the next
plenary meeting.
The delegates of the five great pow
ers will meet in Stephen Pichon's Of
flee. The Foreign Minister viii trans
fer the presidency which he has hith-
erto exercised at these meetings to
Premier Clemenceau. This meeting
will occupy the entire day, being in
terrupted only by luncheon given by
the Senate in honor of President Will
son.
Russia To-day's Issue
The subject of discussion at the
meeting will be the situation in Rus
sia
The machinery prepared for the
first session of the conference on Sat
urday functioned so perfectly and
smoothly that few persons unacquaintcd
with secretarial methods in conducting
such international gatherings realized
just what was being done and what had
been accomplished when NJ. Clemen-
ceau, permanent chairman of the con
ference, abruptly announced the ad-
journment of the session.
In fact, the conference not only CT
fected its organization, but it actually
embarked upon the execution of a most
ambitious programme in the adoption
Of what officially is designated as the
"agenda," which in English means "or-
der of business"
Some of the delegates expressed sur
prise at the precedence given on the
programme to such subjects as respon
sibilty for the war. and particularly
at the prominence given international
labor problems, while such important
subjects as the league CT nations and
freedom of the seas did not appear on
the agenda
No Delay to Result
1t was pointed out o-day that the
absence of these subjects from sho
programme was not due either to over
sight or desire to delay their con-
sideration, and that no delay would re-
suit. Topics on the order of business
have been almost automatically re-
ferred to various delegations, which
will report on them as soon as they are
ready.
In the meantime the peace conference
itself may concentrate its attention on
other questions, especially league OF
nations, which NJ. Clcmenceau said in
his address would be first in order.
The method thus adopted is ex-
pected to advance rather than to delay
action on the most important qucs-
tions
The nations composing the supreme
council, according to the regulations,
are to take part in all the sittinys,
while the other nations are 10 be rep
resented only when questions in which
they are especially interested are dis
cusscd.
Lansing a e-President
The conference has solved the del
icate question Of etiquette in select
ing four vice-presidents, who are to
preside in turn in the absence of NJ.
Clemenceau.
Secretary OF State Lansing has been
chosen to act in this capacity for the
United States delegation, which will
leave President Wilson free to come
and go at will on the floor of the CON
ference. and, it was said to-day. eve,
to leave for the United States without
sacrificing any advantage to America
In execution of the promise of NJ.
Clemenceau that the question of a
league of nations would take first
place, the supreme council viii on
deavor 10 weld together some of the
projects which have been under sem
arate consideration by different dele
cations If it is impossible to reduce
them to one plan, it is expected that
they will be classified and put into
compact form for consideration by the
conference as early as possible.
The American delegation will take
the initiative in this work and to-mor-
row will lay what may be called the
American plan before the council, If
the council is ready to take it up.
Conference Regulations
Following are the peace conference
regulations. which we're made public
officially to-day:
Section 1.-The conference assembled
TO s'N the conditions of peace, first in
the preliminaries Of peace and then In
the definite treaty of reace. shall in
cIude the representatives of the bel
hgerent Allied and associated powers.