Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-22
Intimate Friend Of President
Announces Special Trip
He Is to Make.
PEACE MOVE Is HINTED
Both Wilson and Colonel
Deny That Is Motive-To
Enlighten Ambassadors

Washington. Dec. %. - Announce
ment by Colonel z. NJ. House of New
York. President Wilson'S close per
sonal friend and adviser, that he soon
would go to Europe at the request Of
the president and the secretary of
stale. caused great interest in official
ana diplomatic circles here today.
Secretary Lansing confirmed the an
nouncement but declined to add any
thing to it,
Colonel Houses statement declared
that the sole object Of his mission
would be TO take to the American am
basadors at the capitals Of the warning
nations certain information regarding
the Washington governments attitude
on International questions, It was de-
MED that he would 60 on a peace mis-
SIGN
Silent on Peace Suggestion.
Officials today declined to discuss
Colonel Houses mission owing to its
delicate nature nor would they make
any response to questions as to wheth-
er he would make informal inquiries
regarding PROSPECTS Of peace.
The trip will be the second one
made by Colonel House Since last
spring, when be visited Germany,
France and England and talked with
. high government officials.
At the time Of the first trip it was
reported that Colonel House acted as
the personal emissary Of President
Wilson and that he went on a peace
mission. This Colonel House denied,
although later he reported to the pres
ident on his observations of the state
Of public opinion abroad While what
he told the president never became
known, il was learned that his picture
Of the situation did not change the
presidents belief that the time was
not opportuue for initiating peace
movement
To Exchange Views.
Authoritative explanation Of the
purposes Of Col. +. NJ. Houses trip to
Europe at the request of President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing, OBJ
tanned here today, discloses that
Colonel House will dispense the views
Of the United States on general inter-
national questions and will endeavor
to determine the state of official and
public opinion IN the various coun-
tries ne Will visit During his tour
Colonel House may secure expressions
or understandings in regard to peace
negotiations, Should he do SO, the
United States will be promptly ad-
Yised
However, he will make no effort to
secure views on this point The peace
question, # is stated, is merely Incl
dental to his trip.
The state department wants It un-
derstood that the visit Of Colonel
House should not be construed into
meaning that there is any dissatis-
faction OF any of the diplomatic rep
FeSentatiYes OF the United States. Inc
contrary Is true.
President Backs Colonel.
Hot Springs, Va, Dec. 22.-Presi-
dent Wilson said today that the Eu-
ropeau trip of his friend, Colonel Z.
NJ. House. was In no way connected
with the peace movement, but was
entirely for the purpose outlined by
Colonel House in his statement issued
last night In New York The colonel
said his mission was to communicate
10 American ambassadors in person
Tor the president certain information
That the ambassadors might more in
tmately communicate the attitude of
the United States toward certain
phases Of the international situation.
Further than to say that Colonel
House had stated the object of his
mission exactly the president refused
TO comment.
Today the president and Mrs. Will
son motored over to White Sulphur
springs, ". Va. for luncheon. The
ride is about az miles