The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-05-05
CONFER WITH The
FRENCH VISITORS
American Officials Discuss the
Conduct of the War With
Foreign Commission.
Deceived At WHITE HOUSE
Marshal Joffre and Members of Staff
Talk over Situation With Sec
rotary of War Baker.

Washington, April 27-Conferences
between members of the French war
mission and American government Of
ficials for exchanges of views regard
ing the conduct of the war against
Germany began here today after the
leading commissioners had paid Off
cial calls upon President Wilson, Vice
President Marshall and Secretaries
Lansing, Baker AMI Daniels.
OF foremost Importance was long
talk between Marshal Joffre and mem
bers of his staff and Secretary Baker,
General Scott, chief of staff, and sew
eraI other American army officers. 1t
took place at the home of Henry
White, former American ambassador
to France, where the French visitors
are being entertained as the guests
Of the nation.
France Wants Troops
France is known to desire the send
ing of an American expeditionary
force to cooperate with her armies
and Marshal Joffre came to the United
States prepared to give reasons for the
opinion of French military experts
that the sending of such a force is
advisable. Information regarding the
meeting between the military leaders
was withheld.
Soon after the conclusion of the con-
ference Rene Viviani, vice premier of
France, head of the mission, made
statement to the American press in
which he declared that the co-opera-
ton of the United States in the war
would mean not only a victory for
France, but a victory of morality and
right.
Makes Statement to Press.
NJ. VivIani received the newspaper
correspondents in the drawing room of
the White home while in a recep-
ton hall nearby French and American
officials in uniform were gathered in
groups discussing the subjects near
est their hearts.
AS the correspondents entered M.
Viviani arose from a seat in front of
Al open fire, and after shaking hands
with his visitors, spoke in French
slowly and impressively. Only once
or twice did he raise his hands in a
gesture to emphasize a point. His as
sistants, Emile Hovelaque, read to the
correspondents an English translation
Of what the head of the mission had
Taid.
No Formal Alliance.
Washington, April 26.-Complete I'M
derstanding of Americas attitude in
the war-unreserved cooperation in
the fight of democracy against the
German military menace without en-
tangling political alliances-Was ex-
pressed by Foreign Minister BaIfour,
head of the British war commission,
in statement today to newspaper
correspondents.
81 am told" said Mr.. Balfour, that
there are some doubling critics who
seem to think that the object of the
missions of Great Britain and France
is to inveigle the United States out Of
its traditional policy and to entangle
it in a formal alliance, secret or pub
lie, with European powers. I cannot
imagine any rumOr with less founda-
ton, nor can 1 imagine any policy so
utterly unnecessary. Our confidence
in the assistance which we are going
to get from this community is not
based upon such considerations as
those which arise out of formal trea-
ties"
The foreign minister's statement
was officially stated to have been
made as a result of his conferences
during the past few days with Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary Lansing.
1t was generally regarded as disposing
finally of suggestions in some quar-
tiers that the United States might be
asked to sign a treaty not to make a
separate peace.
S2oo, ZOO, 900 Loan Delivered.
This was an eventfu1 day for the
British commissioners, marked by
hearty welcome to Frances iIlustrious
war commission and the delivery to
Ambassador Spring-Rice of Americas
first loan to the Allies, 100000, 900.
While the British visitors devoted
most OF the day to honoring the
French mission, they found time to
complete details of organization in
preparation for the joint conference
soon to begin, now that the represen-
a. -