The review., 1917-10-11
So So
T0pREPARE FOR
PEACE CONGRESS
o,,oopI House Undertakes Un-
'' usual Task at Request of
President Wilson.
MES NOT AIM TO END WAR
,...k Is to Equip Government With
Data That Will Be Important
When the HostiIities Come
t" a Close.

rou York.-Col. E. Nj. House, who
asked hy President Wilson to un-
""I "toto the ask of preparing data for
u'I'" ,,co oi he United States when the
'n urino nations gather about the con-
s'n,ncp table to discuss peace terms,
taa entered actively upon the perform
Ia" of his unusual duties. His first
"p was to select DR.. John II. Finley,
Commissioner ,f education of the state
Now York, as his chief assistant.
nootor Finley will bring to the work
~ the information which he gathered
recent trip to Europe; where he
u,odo an extensive study of conditions.
Emnbasis is laid upon the fact that
ho annointment of the presidents in
t;,otp friend and counselor to this pO-
sition is not Indicative of any move for
noocp at this time but is merely pre-
noratory to the peace conference
rhich must come inevitably at some
time in the future.
The selection of Doctor Finley is in
dicotiyp Of the sort of experts with
whom Colonel House will confer. No
man or woman with a pfeconceived
.ninion which might tempt one to color
circumstances so as to prove the cor
roctnpSs of personal point of view
will he permitted to participate in a
work where -mindednesS is pre-
reouisite to the arrival at conclusions
that will enable the government to de-
tprmine upon a correct policy.
Emphasis is put upon the unalter-
able determination that neither pro-
fpssional pacitists nor confirmed mill
tarists can be in the slightest degree
useful in preparing statistics for gov
enmental guidance, which must be
without taint Of bias.
In an interview Colonel House made
It plain that his appointment does not
Indicate any thought of immediate
peace is now being entertained by the
United States government. He agrees
with Lord NOrthcliffe in his message
delivered before the American Bank
ers' association in Atlantic City that
peace seems far off and America
should beware the trickery and treach-
ery of such propaganda. The truth is
that this effort on the part of the
United States to analyze war condi-
tons and evolve a plan of procedure
when hOStiities end is a belated one,
Just as our military preparations
Jagged for a period. But now 1t is
full steam ahead and damn the tor
pedOes' with our army and navy with
not a thought of let-up in mind, so
from now on there will be urgent
prosecution of search for material, his
t0rical and Informative, concerning the
world war. This quest of data will
keep pace with an energetic prosecu-
tion Of the contest, but will not halt 1t
in any way. To pause now in any
phase Of belligerent endeavor might
make the prospect of peace even more
remote than it seems at present.
No Sign of Early Peace.
The government sees nothing what
ever to indicate the early approach of
peace, nor will Colonel House have
anything to do with ascertaining the
point of view of either the Entente
belligerents or the central powers, or
possible terms upon the basis Of which
tney might be willing to enter into ne
SO1ations. He will remain in the Unit
Fd States. It is possible that the state
department will be able to afford him
mo in the work he has undertaken,
Out ne will not work with the depart
1Ient nor In diplomatic capacity, for
NAL or informal. He will have no title
and will receive no salary.
Inc appointment of Colonel House
aIOrds another illustration of the ex-
pdndlng position of the United States
III world affairs. Heretofore the state
department. has been equipped with
virtually all the information that was
neceHsary TO the solution of interna-
nonal problems in which the United
N'ateS has taken a direct interest. The
war mas brought new problems and
,hoJected this country into a field of
;an'efhatlonal activity which it has sell
'oLl entered before.
1he questions which will come be-
'Uie the peace conference at the end
=. ~ We war will be multitudinous. The
,aeeuom - of the seas, the naturalization
\, sea"ays, the political homeogeneity
peoples who claim the right of self
Ss'einnent w., and the disposition Of ter
Nv l.oilal possessions involving economic
b,''orlcal h. and political questions, will
NJ 9olhe OF the many subjects to
w w considered, and the information
spS apS" which conclusions may be based
1u u, potlcies decided must be at hand
N WIN exclusive European problems