The weekly Alaska citizen., 1917-11-12
MEETING GERMANY

Col. l.. M. House, special American am bassador to Europe and head of the Ameri can mission to the great allied war confer ence to be held shortly in France, has some times been designated as "personal advisor to the President Whether there be any truth in this statement or not, it is evident that the President places considerable conf dence in Mir. House, as is indicated by his recent appointment to investigate conditions so as to determine the exact nature of the peace requirements which will be demanded by the United States when the final peace ne gOtlatlOns are undertaken.
 When 1t was announced that the Presi- dent had commissioned him for this purpose, there was a great commotion among the paci- lists throughout the country, who jumped at the conclusion that America was almost wiling to consider a peace proposal if it should be made by Germany. Recent develop ments and positive statements have shown, however, that they were too hasty in form ing such conclusion.
 It is now certain that the President is mere y preparing to be able to hold his own against the Germans when the time for peace discussions shall have arrived. Present events
  time to prepare for war is during peaceful times, and the opposite of this should be and probably is equally true We have learned to our cost that 1t is unWise to postpone pre- paredness for war until the war is upon us, and the President is not taking any chances of being unprepared to meet Germany around the peace table
 To many people the mention of peace seems to carry with it a conception of imme- diate negotiations, which do not necessarily follow. Under present conditions peace is not desirable achievement but full knowl- edge of the exact kind of peace which must be obtained in order to prevent future wars is not only desirable but absolutely essential.
 Ever since the beginning of the war the German nation has discussed various possible peace terms, and know exactly what kind of an agreement will be most to the advantage of that nation. Leaders of public opinion, fnanciers, statesmen, men in all walks of life, have contributed to the discussion, until almost every German knows what Germany can concede to her enemies and still come out a winner Germany's diplomats who will probably sit in any peace council which may be held are as efficiently trained for their work in such a confernece as the German military arm was at the outbreak of the war
 For the allies to try to secure a just and lasting peace by sending unprepared men to meet these diplomats, when the time comes, would be great mistake and would prob ably result in the loss of most of the fruits gained by the armed forces in the war.
 This is the real reason for the Presi- lent's appointment of Mir. House to study peace negotiations. He is preparing to meet the Germans as effectively in peace as in war, as the only method of attaining complete success.
 A scientific expedition making a geological survey n Alaska has discovered river of mud seventeen miles ong. that is trifle of little impor- ance than the Woonasquatucket. and Insignificant ,reek when compared with the Missouri-Providence, 2. l., Journal.
 OF all the treasures in Alaska, the seals prob .bly among the most valuable Unlike mineral wealth, hey need never run out for, in consequence of their reproduction they yield under reasonable control large and continuous for ndefi- lite future-Toronto Mail and Empire.