The Washington herald., 1917-12-16
HOUSE, INU.
AGAIN, SAYS
BIG SUCCESS
Head of American Mission
Reports Conference
Cemented Allies.

An Atlantic Port, Dec. 15.-Peace
was never discussed at the interalIied
war council in Paris which cemented
together the allied Nations for the
vigorous prosecution Of the war, de-
clared Col, E. NJ. House. head Of the
American mission, on his arrival here
tonight.
Before the conference COORDINATION
was not going on well. but we are nov
all working together. We got to-
gether principally on the economic
situation, the embargo on shipments
to neutral countries, food and finance.
Peace was never mentioned in any Of
our meetings or conferences, either in
Paris or at the meeting of the supreme
war council in Versailles" Col House
said.
The governments must ratify all
action taken at the Paris conference.
The formation Of the naval confer
ence, announced yesterday from
Washington. was one of the accom-
plishments, Col. House said.
Gen. Bliss Returns.
The supreme war council is now "a
permanent body. America is entitled
to representation il it is desired. Gen.
Bliss, chief OF stan and member of
the American mission, returned with
Col. House and will make q report Of
the work OF the war council to Secre-
tary Baker. Col. House will arrive in
Washington Monday to report to
President Wilson on the work of the
mission.
Il will report that it was a com
plete success" Col. House said to-
night.
We have brought things to a focus.
The interallied conference began No
vember q. We held just three general
meetings. All the rest Of the work was
done by committees. There were rep
resentatives of all OF the nations now
at war with the Central Powers pres
ent. including Japan. Greece. China
and some of the free states of Africa.
The governments sent the most able
men for the work. They were special
lists, every one of them. in some way.
They were accordingly grouped in
committees which facilitated the
work"
When asked whether war aims were
discussed Col. House said:
War aims were not touched upon
so far as this country is concerned
because l would not discuss them"
May Not Go Back.
The entire American mission. with
the exceptions Of Crosby and Taylor.
returned with Col House. Those two
men will arrive soon. he said. Ad-
miral Benson and Gen. Bliss will
make separate reports TO the War and
Navy Departments.
When asked whether he would
again return TO Europe. Col. House
said:
That depends entirely upon thc
decision of President Wilson. How
ever, 1 do not expect to be sent back. ="
Gen. Pershing has a diff1cult task. y
said Col House. but he is doing it
very well. While in France visit ed
the American camps and the men are
now in the best OF condition and will
be ready to fight WHOM the time
comes And they know how to fight.
Both Pershing and Admiral Sims are
well liked by all the naval and mill
tary experts in Europe and Ameri-
can interests are almost paramount. !"
The morale of the people in the
allied countries of Europe is splen-
did. Even the French pacifists are
compelled to admit that the morale
was never better than now"
Col. House paid high tribute to the
other members of the American mis-
sion and gave out for publication
the following statement:
Il wish TO record my apprecia-
ton of the individual work of the
men of this mission. Whatever sue
cess it has had as a force for good
is due them. In all my experience
with men 1 have never known better
or more intelligent team work.