The Washington herald., 1917-11-15
U. S. TO APPROVE
ANY AGREEMENT
AMONG ALLIES
Col. House Has Power to
Speak for Nation, Says
Official.

The United States will acceed to any
plan for unity Of action developed at
the interallied conference IN Paris.
Nothing on the part of the United
states will be permitted to interfere
with such a plan. It was so stated
at the State Department yesterday.
Even the possibility Of our troops
being sent to the Italian front will not
deter the United States in doing ev-
erything possible to win the war in
the way decided upon by the best al
lied opinion.
Austria, Bulgaria or Turkey" a high
Official was asked. will that prevent
our taking part on the Italian sector
of the Western front IL the interalied
control should order our men thereT
- IT guess not" was the prompt an
swer. THE Germans are there, too"
Allied Are United.
There is no hint that the United
states troops now or IN the immediate
future will be sent to the Italian
front. It Is generally believed that
they will not. The assumption Of this
position. however, makes 1t clear that
the United States will not be balkeo
by a hostile action against Austria,
Bulgaria or Turkey. II that should be-
come a wise move.
Secretary Daniels gave substantial
proof of the adoption of this program
when he revealed yesterday how close
ly knit with the British admiralty are
our own naval operations. 1t is in
timated that the military operations
are on an equally intimate footing.
Notice of this position of the United
States has, it is believed, been already
served on the allied governments. 1t
may afford an example that will ma
teriauy lessen the objections to the
plans which have appeared to de-
velop in both London and Paris with
in the last twenty-four hours in the
position Of Mr.. Asquith in the COM
mons and in certain aspects Of the
French cabinet crisis.
This notice to the allies consists In a
copy of the statement of Secretary
Lansing on the appointment of Col.
House to the war conference. This
statement, the State Department ex-
planned, has been cabled to all the
allied governments. 1t was revealed
yesterday that the Italians, at least,
have accepted it as a comprehensive
definition Of the position of the United
States. 1t was highly praised in ex-
cerpts from the Italian press received
here yesterday.
President to Decide.
The Stkte Department. it is learned.
has as yet no details of the proposed
plan C{l House, however. has ample
powers up to a certain point. At that
point he will have to cable home
When he cables home for authority to
accept a proposition OF principle or
of detail his request will go straight
to President Wilson and be acted upon
by him. 1t Is considered certain that
the President will be guided almost
wholly by Col Houses advice. in view
Of the Presidents well known conf
dence in the knowledge Of Col. House
Of affairs. both at home and abroad.
II is intimated that a very much
more comprehensive scheme than the
Foch-Wilson-Cadorna military COM
mittee will be the outgrowth of the
Paris conference. Officials indicated
that the men representing the United
States abroad are now qualified to
represent this country on any such
comprehensive central body for the di-
rection of military. naval. economic,
political and financial policies and de-
tails.