The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-08
PRELIMINARY
CONFERENCES
ARE TO START
ON THURSDAY
.ntente Statesmen to Lay
Real Groundwork of Peace
Congress at Informal Ses-
sions-Plans Still Indefinite
WILSON VIEW UNKNOWN
tBy Associated Press>

with entente statesmen which Will lay
the real ground work for the peace
congress will begin on Thursday
These conferences will probably be
President Wilson's only official activ-
ity prior to the beginning Of the peace
congress. as 1t is necessary for him to
get some rest after fatiguing round
OF speeches and travelling. After the
formal sessions begin. he will, doubt
less. play a little golf, IL the weather
is good. but will deny himself to all
callers and will cut all other business
% minimum.
As the conference approaches the
stage where important formal agree
r,ents. which will have an important
;ear,nG on final settlements Will be
cached, there seems to be excellent
authority for saying that plans for the
settlement of the most important ques-
tons. the league of nations. the free
dom of the seas and disarma ment. are
rtill very indefinite.
II Is true that several propositions
ere being put forward for the adjust
,ient of these matters but there Is
nore having the color of official sane
lion. II Mr.. Wilson has drawn up any
svccific plans. he has not divulged
tacm to anybody and it is known that
% is closely studying var!ous sugges'
LONG that arc advanced by others.
7 mis- Is not necessarily to be construed
ss meaning that the president Is with
nut definite ideaa on the subjects
'.ade~ consideration. but rather that he
haa been giving thought to the govern
'rS principles and keeping an open
:, I'd 40 as to benefit from ideas COM
rs from all sources.
Agree On Main Points.
1he American commission has been
gathering material constantly and
tlis is to be ready in memorandum
forro for the president when he goes
TO the coming The best
information Cbtsinable as to confer
cnces 60 far field with British and
italian statesmen is that they were
very satisfactory. developing no diff
fsrences as to principles involved. II
ias been noted that Mr.. Wilson, in
all his speeches. has emphasized the
fact that there is perfect agreement
as to main points.
Those near the president have beer
eager to send to America some detail
plished since his coming to Europe
hut it has been explained that nego
;iations at present are Of such char
acter that it would be unwise to dis
cuss matters still in the formative
stage.
The coming conferences will, among
other things. proba bly, decide on the
date of the opening of the formal ses
sions of the conference the extent II
which they will be open and other de
tails which are Of great interest tt
the public.
Secretary Of State Lansing. Colone
T.. M. House and Lord Robert Cecil
who has made the subject Of the
league of nations a special study or
behalf Of the British government. hele
long conference today regarding thu
details to be worked out in forming {
league Their conference followed
consultations between President viii
son and Colonel House last evening.
Premier Orlando and Foreign Minis
ter Sonnino of Italy and Premier Lloyt
George and Foreign Minister Balfou
of Great Britain are expected herr
soon to confer with Premier Clemen
ceau and Foreign Minister Pichon.
1t is probable that the members o
the various delegations will be Off
cially announced before the end of thi
week.
Owing to the fact that peace nego
tiations are to begin very soon, th
official visit of Prince Regent Alexan
der OF Serbia has been postponed. H
will however, come here incognito, fo
brief visit.