New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-22
Will Carry InfOrma-
ton that Can't
Go by Gable.
AMBASSADORS
TO MAKE REPORT
Not Peace Errand, MesSen.
ger Declares - News
Stirs Washington.

At the request of President Wilson
Colonel Z. NJ. House, his intimate friend,
will start before January l on mis-
sion to the United States envoys IN
Europe.
This request was made Of the colonel
before the Presidents marriage. His
Journey, according to Colonel House.
will make unnecessary the usual home
coming Of American ambassadors and
ministers. He said last night that there
would be nothing mysterious about his
trip; that he was not going to Europe
to feel out the possibilities of peace, as
reported yesterday, and that he intend
ed to visit the envoys in the belligerent
countries for the purpose Of informing
them OF the correct attitude Of this
country toward European affairs.
81 am going TO Europe at the request
Of the President and tn Secretary Of
State" said Colonel House. "My task
will be to take information to some Of
our ambassadors in order that they may
have a more intimate knowledge Of this
governments attitude regarding certain
phases Of pending international ques-
tions and in order 10 obtain from them
their personal point Of view.
at is two years since our ENJOYS
made personal reports TO the President.
Our Minister to Belgium, Mr.. Whitlock,
was an exception, but he WAS forced to
come home owing TO illness. 1t is in
advisable to bring home at this time
any of our ambassadors. II has been
found impossible to convey or obtain
by cable or correspondence quite the
correct atmosphere. That is one of the
fundamental reasons why ! am going
"Will this be in the nature Of a
vicarious report from our ambassadors
and ministers in the bellgerent coun-
tries ," Colonel House was asked.
"Yes," he answered. 81 will solicit
each Of our representatives,. take from
them what they couldn't otherwise sub
NIT, and bring their reports to Mr.. Will
SON."
"How long do you intend to stay?'
81 am not quite certain, b-t imagine
] will return home within six weeks
"Have you decided which countries
you will visi. first?"
"Not yet. | still have to arrange for
the details Of the trip. You see
with a smile "therc a possibility /
may not go at ALL
"Win Mrs. House go with you?'
ooh, yes, couldn't think Of lcay-
ing her here
Colonel House drew a line through
an account Of an afternoon paper in
which he was supposed TO have been
asked to 20 to Europe on a mission OF
peace.
That wrong" ne said "You may
say so for me. have no idea of doing
that. nor have been asked to do that.
As / said before, there is nothing mys-
terious about my trip to the belllgerent
countries. Somehow or other the nature
of the Journey was made public, but ]
would have given out the details and
purpose of the trip before sailing.
There is nothing to hide"
Colonel House would not deny that
he had received an absolutely free
hand. 1t was pointed out to him that
while in Europe he could not he Up as
certaining the attitude Of the bellig-
erent countries tow-rd an immediate
discontinuance Of warfare.
"Such infor. alton may come TO me
indirectly" be admitted. "My purpose,
as have stated. is to learn what our
envoys abroad havo to say
Colonel House did not say what day
he would sail. Arrangements for his
passage have already been made in
/ Washington. II is likely that he will
visit the President and Mrs. Wilson be-
/ fore sailing.