Evening star., 1928-01-01

that Presidents OF the United States remain
within the boundaries Of this country This ira.
dition was broken first by President Roosevelt
who tourneyed to the Panama Canal Zone
which after all is American territory. Pres-
dent Taft also went to Panama and met Pres-
dent DiaZ of Mexico at the International Bridge
across the Rio Grande. Most important how.
ever. Of the visits Of American Presidents to
foreign soil were the trips which President
Woodrow Wilson made to Europe in 1918 and
1919 for the purpose of attending the peace
conference at the close of the World War. Mr..
Wilson was out of this country for six months.
leaving here first December g. 1918, and re-
turning February "a, 1919. He left this country
again for Europe March Z. 1919, and landed in
this country on July of the same year. Presi.
dent Wilson went himself delegate to the
peace conference, but he took with him no
more impressive delegation than the American
delegation to the coming Pan.American Con.
gress.
During his stay abroad President Wilson
visited many countries including France Eng.
land Italy. Belgium. Mr.. Coolidge, according
to his present plans. will set foot on foreign soil
only once. In Cuba. This stay. IL present plans
are carried out, will be no longer than 48 hours
Mr.. Coolidge will make the trip from Key West
the battleship Texas, flagship of the fleet.
The draught Of the Texas Is too great for the
Florida Harbor and she will lie outside until a
destroyer conveys the presidential party from
Key West to the battleship. Should the weather
spared the discomfort OF travel on the battle
ship nd will he taken instead in cruiser and
transferred to the Texas at Havana. for the
hattleship will be the presidential headquarters
during his visit to Cuba.
The original plan was that the President
should live on the batteship during his stay.
thus technically remaining American terri
tory. That plan was abandoned, however. and
1t is expected that the President will accept the
hospitality Of President Machado and reside at
the Presidents Palace. Ordinarily the Presi-
dent might be expected to reside at the Ameri.
can embassy. But the embassy Is relatively
small. Mr.. Judah. the Ambassador. has
not had time to fit up the mansion he will oc.
cupy later The President can occupy one wing
OF President Machado's Palace and be entirely
isolated from the rest
When President Wilson went to Europe he
and his retinue travelled aboard the George
Washington. During his long stay in Europe,
Mr.. Wilson still continued to function as Presi-
dent although critics attempted at the time to
prove that his absence from the United States
disqualified him. Senator Sherman of Illinois
at the time introduced resolution to confer
powers Of the President upon Vice President
Marshall. but nothing came Of II. and Mr.. VIII.
son carried on as President. He returned TO
this country at the close Of Congress in March,
1919. and signed many bills awaiting his ap-
proval.
President Coolidge will be out Of the United
States such brief period that his absence can
scarcely interfere Mt all with his performing his
duties President.
President Coolidge Is 10 make one speech
on January 16. The program Is still 10 be
finally approved. The President may receive
the delegates to the Pan.American Congress on
the night OF the 18th aboard the Texas, or he
may wait until the next day.
f(,onfinY,ad an Topth Pace