Evening journal., 1917-04-23

was Balfour's comment-and he was OBJ
viously delighted.
After greeting his guests. President
Wilson invited Balfour and Secretary
Lansing into a conference which took
place behind closed doors in the blue
room. It lasted As minutes. All other
members of the party, including the
aides, remained outside the door
Americas aims and objects and the
part she desires to play in the War
we're outlined to Secretary Balfour
by President Wilson. Balfour spoke
for all the Allies in responding to the
Presidents views on the international
agreement and recognition by the AL
lies Of the letter and spirit of world
Monroe doctrine
At 1145 Balfour left the White
House for the Capitol to meet Vice
President Marshall.
Secretary Lansing returned to the
State Department following the White
House conference. Assistant Secre-
tary Of State Phillips escorting Bal
four to the Capitol.
Another big crowd greeted the Wis
itOrs at the Capitol where they ar
rived few moments before the Sen
ate convened to resume debate as to
whether the nation will raise it's.
armies by conscription or by volun-
teerng
The party was shown Immediately
into President Marshall's Offices.
II had been planned for the Supreme
Cour, justices to meet Balfour and
his party but Balfour had remained
too long in conference with Lansing
and Wilson The justices had to go
into court which convened at noon.
1t was made clear by high official
OF the commiss on that tho thought
uppermost in the minds Of the Brit
ish representatives is:
The Allies must have food
Il wish to make il plain" said this
spokesman. that we are not here to
tell you what you must do
I'VE have our own ideas as TO how
you can best help; bu. we come
equipped with facts. to tell you what
avoid them; what price is paid for
what we have accomplished. so you
may determine whether you think tho
price is worth paying To accomplish
those things yourselves.
"The Allies greatest problems-and
the one which you can best aid our
allied cause by helping sOlve--is that
Of food, which involves that Of ship
ping.
"Please remember that there is no
British food problem, no French
food problem. nor italian. nor Rus
sian food problem II is all one great
question. At a recent allied confer
ence the allied governments agreed
to pool their food supplies.
"While England is not short of
food and probably could get along
II she had only herself to consider,
all Is not we'll with France and Italy.
Their food shortage is acute. It is
growing more So"
There is no immediate concern re-
garding sending troops to Europe,
It was officially stated.
The British ComSlissiOn is not i'm
mediately concerned over the send
ing Of troops. it was explained. Their
man power is sufficient for the mo-
ment; and the sending Of great
masses Of men to Europe now would
make the food problem critical and
out Of all proportion to the fighting
strength gained.
Il also want to make It clear" con
tinued this authority. that no stem
of Importance is to be taken definitely
until the French commission has ar
rived. The French commission is
not coming out of mere courtesy. but
to take an active part in the confer
ences"
Also" the official went on, "allow
me to make clear the status Of the
British Commission.
Secretary 9alfour's word is in
every respect absolute. All the ex-
/ perts with b. are here merely to
answer questions directed to them
/ through Balfour
Every question, military. naval.
/ commercial or otherwise, must finally
| be decided between President Wilson
and Secretary Ralfour
"The discussions and conferences
between the other Officials will be
/ subsidiary.
AT a brief meeting of the British
commission today the program for
each division was roughly mapped out.