The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-26
Americas Hand Firmer Today
Than Any Time Since the
Declaration Against
Germany.
WORLD CONFERENCES
French and British Commissioners
Plunge Into the Details Of Help
ing United States
In War.
[By George Martin, United Press
Staff CORRESPONDENT

Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 26.-Amer-
lea today made war plans with a
frmer hand than at any time since
the declaration against Germany.
The world war conferences be-
tween French, British and American
commissions plunged into the de-
tails of putting the United States on
firm war basis as soon as pos
sible.
Every phase of the days develop
ments tended to make this task easy.
Congress- opposition to the conscrip-
tion bill was gradually crumpling
under onslaughts of the administra-
ton. Officials in position to know.
expressed belief that the bill, only
slightly changed, will be before the
president for his signature by the
first of next week.
Today's program Of organizing the
three cornered world war parley
was simplifed by the cooperation of
French and British commissions who
have dovetailed in similar confer
ences frequently in London and
Paris.
One result of today's parieys be-
tween the financial group Of the
allied conference may be an imme-
date s5O,OO0,O0O loan to Italy.
Plans also were perfected for i'm
mediate, preliminary minor loans
like this to any of our allies who
need them.
Not much time will be used by
viviani and Joffre in paying their
official compliments to the president,
Vice President Marshall, Secretary
Lansing and cabinet members today.
Meanwhile all government depart
ment began actual work, putting
the plans Of the allied conferees
into effect.
being mobilized by Secretary of
Labor Wilson to start building the
1000 fast wooden ships to bridge
the Atlantic and supply our Euro
pean allies with food despite the
submarine menace.
Congressional committees and Sec
retary of Agriculture Houston speed
ed up national food production. con-
servation and transportation arrange
ments so that steady stream Of
foodstuffs and all supplies may be
kept pouring into the holds Of these
vessels from the nations producing
centers.
Out Of the ruck of informal parleys
between the various branches of the
war commissions today definite accom-
plishments began to emerge for the
first time. giving some inkling of how
the work is being done.
There will be no definite day by day
statement from the conferees that
they are attacking given problems Of
money, men, food, clothing. shipping
or other thingss Nor will there, prob
ably be any flat announcement from
day to day of the things accomplished.
There are two reasons for this: One
is that the discussions of the various
points will be too protracted and in
volved to permit such action and the
second is that the allies don't want to
tip their hands. AS one high official
expressed it today:
1--WE want for the sake of the
American public information to cloak
our proceedings in as thin veil of
secrecy, as 1t is compatible with safe
ty to our plans. We want to tell the
people as much as we can without CIV
ing the enemy valuable information"
World Food Dictator:
WASHINGTON, April 26.-That
-American-possibly Her
bert Hoover, or Secretary of Labor
Wilson-within the next few months
will become food dictator of the
world was indicated by developments
at the international war conference
of the allies here today.
More and more the war councils
proceedings are crystalizing into
CONTINUED on page 81.