Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-04
EVENTS OF A WEEK

.." Nv VI "a 0SsA
President Wilson is in Italy as the guest OF King VIC
tor Emmanuel after having completed his brief visit to
England. The announced schedule was followed strictly.
Sunday was spent, at Carlisle, the birthplace of the presi-
dents mother. and on Monday the great city OF Man
chester was visited. The reception accorded to the
president at Manchester was the least formal Of any on
the trip, and for that reason it is said to have been par
ticularly pleasing. Arriving in London the president and
his party were again received in state, conducted 70
Dover, the point Of debarkation for France, and there
hidden farewell with the utmost cordially, and with
every evidence Of sincere feeling.
President Wilson and the heads of the British gov
eminent are said to have reached a very satisfactory
understanding on the most vital points Of the peace prob
lem. Apparently their views differed little except on
non-essentials, and a proper understanding on these
matters is said to have been reached. On the two
points concerning which there has been the greatest
uncertainty, and on which there have been widely vary
ing expressions of popular opinion, the league Of nations
and the freedom of the seas, there have been no specific
announcements either from Mr.. Wilson or from the
British statesmen. But the statement has been made
repeatedly. and on what appears to be good authority,
that the British and American views on these impor-i
tant points are in accord.
4.s >
The first expression from a representative Of one
Of the major powers of the Allied group concerning a
vital question which savors Of dissent from the opinion Of
the others came in a speech by Premier clemenceau Of
France at the close of which address the doughty old
premier was given a vote OF confidence by the deputies,
as impressive. in its way, as was the popular endorse
ment given Lloyd George in England. Without discuss.
ing directly the league Of nations the French premier
declared his confidence in the balance Of power" as a
means of preserving peace. This was interpreted in
many quarters as a notification that Clemenceau would
onnOSe the idea n a apIe of nations notba cop.
strucuon has it that there is no real conflict on the sub
ject, but that Clemenceau's statement merely indicates
his belief that the proposed league of nations will not
be as effective as many people hope in removing the
necessity for the maintenance by the democratic nations
Of large armed forces with which to enforce their de-
RAND for peace.
The president, after spending New Years day quiet
ly in Paris, left for Rome where he :: now. AS these
lines are written the carrying out of the program of his
reception has barely begun. Nothing has been lacking.
however, from the warmth with which the head of the
American nation has been greeted as his train has passed
from point to point in Italy on its way to the capital,
and the greeting given him in Rome was in keeping with
the importance of the occasion.
President Wilson met and conferred with the king
of Italy in Paris before his departure for England. 1t
IS to be assumed that on that occasion, and in the brief
conference with the Italian premier, the territorial
claims of Italy came up for discussion. It may be taken
for granted, therefore, that the president went to Lon
don well informed as to the claims that italy makes
to the eastern coast Of the Adriatic, and the grounds on
which those claims are based. And when Messrs. Will
son. Lloyd George and Balfour sat chatting for several
hours before the open fire in the presidents apartments
~ buckingham palace the Italian claims would assuredly
not De forgotten. The conferences that are now to be
held in Rome will therefore be held in the light of a
pretty clear understanding Of French and British opinion
on those subjects, SO far as that opinion has developed.
A feature Of interest in connection with the prest-
rents visit to Rome is the fact that he has planned to call
on the pope. and also to visit the Methodist college in
Rome. 1t will be recalled that when former Pres. Roose-
velt was on his way home after his African hunting trip
ne had planned to pay his respects to the pope of that
time, Plus x. and also to call at the Methodist college
wnicn Is a highly important American educational insti-
tution. The relations between the college and the vsti-
can were not cordial, and it was regretfully made known
g eoionel roosevelt that 1t would not be agreeable to
the pope to receive any one who also gave onnc,a1 recoe-
milton TO 1.-THE college. Roosevelt. therefore, visited the
college, as he had intended, and cancelled his plans Tor
visiting the pope. Either the feeling between the two
religious groups has changed or Pope Benedict has
thought it wise to depart, in this instance, from the policy
OF his predecessor.
s#@s While the president 10 abroad. trying to lid in sh.,-
ing the affairs Of peace. war RACES in the senate. with
hi trip % the casus belli. There has been some sharp
cftiticisTn. chiefly by Republican leaders, Of the pres:-
8dent'a trip to Europe. Of his fourteen peace principles,
md esbecially Of the proposed league OF nations. Many
Sse ne Eemarks INSIDE have had = decidedly vinesary
11lAAser. senator Lewis. Democratic floor leader. made 4
lsasthy speech late N the week In which he called the
AatfsSScf the administration to task. and charged that
- G4acks were Inspired 81 political motives . . mi.
A1ersss III can f6r rejonders there are likely a 5.
~ Essr actd tin,ss Y the ssnat. 4 ne near future.