New-York tribune., 1917-11-09
Starts War Work Immedi.
ately on Arriving in
England
Balfour and Page
Greet the ENJOYS
House Denies America
Plans to Join Pact
of London

LONDON, Nov. s.-The American
Commission 10 the Allied War Confer
ence, headed by Colonel +. NJ. House,
with the honorary rank of special am
bassador, arrived in London at mid
night last night and spent to-day in
conferences with British officials.
Colonel House, receiving the British
and American newspaper men tonight,
said he did not expect to stay in Lon
don long. He denied that the commits
sion's presence meant that the United
States would join the pact of London
binding the Allies to wage war or make
peace together.
eve had pleasant and uneventful
voyage" Colonel House told The Asso-
ciated Press. "The weather was fair.
There were no submarines IL was the
best vacation have had in two years"
The commissioners were met by AM
bassador Page. Vice-Admiral Sims and
Foreign Secretary Balfour. There are
twenty-seyen persons in the party. in
cluding Admiral Benson. General Bliss,
Vance Mccormick, chairman of the War
Trade Board; Oscar T. Crosby, Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury; Balm
bridge Colby, OF the United States Ship
ping Board; Dr. A. f. Taylor, repre-
senting the Food Controller. and Paul
Crsvath.
Mrs. House and two women secre-
taries are in the party. Colonel and
Mrs. House were driven TO the resi-
dence of the Duke of Roxburghe, where
they will stay while in London.
House Outlines Programme
The first thing the members of the
mission did to-day was 10 go into eon-
ference. with Colonel House presiding.
Colonel House outlined a tentative pro-
gramme for the next few days, calling
for series Of conferences with British
officials. Each member of the mission
will discuss his particular work with
British officials in charge oil similar
activities in England.
81 am impatient TO see with my own
eyes the great efforts England is max
ing toward solving the shipping prob
lem," said Mr.. Colby, "and with this
end in view will pay an early visit to
the great shipysrds. America is now
fully awake 10 the importance of tom
mage in this war and is carrying out a
programme of unparalleled magnitude.
Shipbuilding now takes priority over all
other work in our country
The result Of the election in New
York City was the most interesting
wireless news which the party received
during the voyage. 1t WAS picked up
early Wednesday and greatly interested
Mr.. Colby and the other New Workers.
81 am here as political representa-
tive of the American government. sc-
ouainting myself with the latest de-
velopments in official circles in Eng
land preparatory to gong 20 France
70 attend the Paris Allied Conference,
said Colonel House to-day. Our stay
in England will be brief, and every
hour will be crowded with conferences.
As head of the mission | shall be con-
suited from time 10 time by the otner
members, although each Of them, by
the nature of his respective duties, Is
working Independently of the others.
A few moments before this interview
an official Of tho British government
called upon Colonel House at the res
idence of the Duke Of Roxbuwhc, to
acquaint him with the political over
turn in Russia.
at is TOO delicate and too serious a
subject for me TO comment on at this
time" said the colonel.
This afternoon the colonel lunched
with Mr.. Balfour. He devoted the re
mainder of the oay 70 conferences with
british officials. The other members
Of the mission busted themselves at
the American Embassy and in confer
enccs with representatives Of the
American and British War and Navy
departments.