The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-01-04
NEWS review OF
CURRENT Events
PRESIDENT WILSON GIVEN ROYAL
WELCOME BY THE BRITISH
KING AND PEOPLE.
CONFERS With WAR Cabinet
League of Nations Subject of Warm
Debate, Here and Abroad-Prog-
ress of Germany's Revolution
Watched With Suspicion
by Allied Nations.
By EDWARD W. PlckARp.

ny EDWRhD w, FlCNARBs
MingIing business and pleasure,
President Wilson spent busy Christ
mas week in France and England.
After two days of conference in which
several pressing problems, notably that
of supplying food to the hungry peo-
| pies Of Europe, were thoroughly dis
cussed, Mr.. Wilson and his party
were taken to Chaumont to spend
Christmas day with the American
troops there. General Pershing was
his host but the president devoted
] much of his time to the doughboys and
- vi rrta
mensely. A review of 10000 American
| troops was a feature of the days do
ings In the course Of his address to
the men of the First army Mr.. Wilson
said: at was the privilege of Amer
lea to present the chart for peace and
now the process of settlement has
been made comparatively simple by
the fact that all the nations concerned
have accepted the chart"
Next the presidential party Travelled
! to Calais and thence to Dover and
London, arriving in the British capital
Thursday afternoon. Throughout the
trip they were accorded all the honors
that royalty could claim, and the
short drive through London was like
a royal progress. King George, Queen
Mary and Princess Mary met them at
the station and the Household cavalry
acted as escort. As it was a holiday
boxing day-the entire population Of
the metropolis seemed to be out, de-
termined to see the famous American.
After a nights rest in Buckingham
palace Mr.. Wilson met the British war
cabinet and discussed with it the
British peace terms that the cabinet
had formulated for presentation to the
interallied conference preceding the
peace congress. On Saturday he con-
ferred with Premier Lloyd George,
Foreign Secretary Balfour and Chan
cellor Of the ExcheQuer Bonar Law
and on Sunday went to Carlisle, where
his mother spent her girlhood.
ID
In London there was more than a
hint that the chief object Of Mr. Will
sons visit to England, aside from the
courtesy feature, was to ascertain
definitely the views of the British gov
eminent on the question of the terms
of restitution to be imposed on Ger
many. It was said he had found
opinion on the continent very hard set
on this question, which is not in the
/ least surprising. The people who
were most directly hit by the hard
ships and horrors of the war are not
likely to be forgiving and altruistic
in their attitude toward the conquered
Huns. If, as has been often said.
America is to ask nothing from Ger
many, it would seem to most of us
that the matter Of payment might well
be left to the victorious nations Of Eu-
rope, who do intend to be repaid, so
/ far as is possible, for their enormous
losses.
- Pa
The proposed league of nations
and the cognate question of the free
dom of the seas are still the subject
Of warm discussion, both abroad and
in America. President Wilson seems
! to be seeking the support of the neu.
trail nations in the matter Of the
league, and his plans are backed up
! by various organizations in France and
England 1t is reported that the neu-
trails viii be permitted to participate
In the deliberations incident to the
formation of the proposed league,
though they win not be admitted to
! the peace conference itself. 1t is be-
lieved many of them win favor the
formation of the league which, under