New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-19
Note Shows Wilson
Is Dissatisfied With
Lloyd George Plan
By c. w. Gilbert

W NaSHlNN lON. NON. los--f IcoiueHb
Wilson's message TO Colonel House. as
it is summarized in The Associated
Press dispatch from London. amounts
almost TO an expression of dissatisfac-
ton with the Lloyd George plan for
joint war control.
The news reads like an official an
nouncement from Colonel House. In
that case the language in which it is
expressed becomes significant. II the
President were entirely satisfied with
the organization the British Premier
effected after the Italian catastrophe.
the natural thing for him 10 do would
be to express his pleasure and instruct
Colonel House and General Bliss to
take part in the first meeting of the
conference. But he seems studiously
to avoid doing this. On the contrary,
he instructs Colonel House TO confer
with the heads of the Allied govern
ments with n view to achieving the
closest possible cooperation"
That instruction, together with the
merely tentative acceptance OF the
Lloyd George war council, seems to
indicate that he hopes that out Of the
Paris conference will come much
more effective scheme for unifying Al
lied operation than the Lloyd George
organization.
Wilson Dissatisfied
This view accords with all the infor-
nation | have been able 70 gather re-
gardng the Administrator attitude
toward that organization. which, il will
be remembered, was formed without
consultation with Nr. Wilson.
Before Colonel Houses arrival in
London il was observed in circles close
to the President that the coloneps mis-
sion was to get control Of the war into
single hands.
1t was said that we had no candidate
for the job Of running the war, and
that we had no form OF organization
in mind as the one that would central
ize control. These matters we left 70
the people who were more familiar
with war conditions than we were. All
we were going TO insist upon was that
unified control should be established.
How strongly the Administration felt
about this need seems 10 be shown by
Lord Northcliffe's letter to Lloyd
George, in which the British commits
sioner says that IL proper control is
not established this country will sooner
or later take large part of the man
agement of the war into its own hands.
Much To Be Desired
On top Of this Northclife statement
of the Administrators feeling comes
President Wilson's message TO Colonel
House, sent after Lloyd George has
formed an organization that nominaliy
at least will establish unity Of control,
insisting that unity must be accom-
plished If the resources Of this country
are TO be used 70 advantage. and direct
ing the colonel to confer with the
heads OF the Allied governments. with
a view TO achieving the closest possible
cooperation" indicating pretty plainly
that the proposed plan leaves a good
deal 10 be desired in the way OF close
cooperation.
The weakness OF the Lloyd George
plan Is that the functions Of the council
created are simply advisory. What this
government unquestionably had in mind
was an organization. whether single
headed or not, which would have ex-
ecutive powers. The Allies have had
regular meetings Of military confer
enees, which reported 70 the several
governments engaged in lighting Ger
many. but these councils, which were
virtually meetings OF joint general
staff, did not produce unity. The gov
ernments were free to take the advice