New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-24
Mission Great
Task Is To Solve
Problem of Food
British Visitors Say Sending
Troops Would Be I'm
wise at This Time

Washington. April 23.-The hopes,
aims and attitude Of the visiting Brit
ish commission headed by Mr.. Balfour
were made clear to-day in statements
given out by various officials Of the
body. all Of whom, save Goeffry Butler,
preferred to remain anonymous.
One Of the most distinguished mem
bers Of the party said:
I'VE are not here to tell you what
you must do.
ave have our own ideas as 70 how
you can best help; but VIC come
equipped with facts. to tell you what
mistakes We made and how you can
avoid them; what price We have paid
for what we have accomplished, SO you
may determine whether you think the
price is worth paying to accomplish
those things yourself.
Food Greatest Problem
"The Allies greatest problem, and
the one in which you can best aid our
allied cause, is food, which involves
shipping
There is no British food problem
no French food problem, nor Italian,
nor Russian food problem. It is all
one great question. Recently the Al
LED governments agreed to pool all
their food supplies.
"The British Commission is not i'm
mediatcly concerned over the sending
Of troops. Our man power rs sufficient
for the moment, and the sending o!
great masses Of men TO Europe now
would make the food problem critical
and out Of all proportion to the fight
ing strength gained
Godfrey Butler, Of Nj Balfour's per
sonsl staff, and the personal represent7
alive Of the Foreign Office. declared
the purpose Of the commission was TO
afford a basis for a mutual exchange
Of ideas leading TO a joint victory.
There are several questions OF
/ principle 10 be settled as the result
/ Of our visit" explained Mr.. Butler.
/ "The length Of our stay here de
/ ponds entirely on developments. The
work Of the conference viii natur-
+ ally be divided into sections. We
/ have experts her, who are iu q
/ position 90 att,l. TO the details
But when We finally get down 20
+ business We are TO hurry our work
through.
Object Is 70 Serve
"ln this war the position OF the
Entente now is one Of common service
] hat was the object in mind when this
commission was authorized. We must
all be as useful as We can be. and the
length OF our stay in the United States
must depend entirely on how long we
can be useful.
We want the advice Of the experts
Of the United States on many subjects.
Your experts have q way Of solving
knotty problems, and you viii undoubt-
eddy be OF great benefit 10 us before We
return home
Mr.. Bslfour's personal position was
pointed out by another official among
the visitors. who said:
The French commission is not com
ing out Of mere courtesy. but TO take
an active part IN the conferences.
Also allow me 10 make clear the
NAtiuN OF the DIIlihN QUINN lNr4oIls tntN-
rotary Balfour's word Is ia every re-
spect absolute. All the experts with
him are here merely TO answer ques-
tions directed 20 them through Baliour.
Every question military. naval
commercial OF otherwise must finally
be decided between President Wilson
and Secretary Bslfour.
1T rs not, ! believe. Balfour's inteu-
ton 70 breach any questions Of inter
national political policy. lie is pre-
pared TO answer them should they be
asked And he will speak FOR ell the
Allies. The Allies do not desire to
make use OF this situation 20 hamper
or coeree the United States in any Of
it's international relations. All we
want TO do is 10 help"
Speaking o. the food situation, one
OF the members Of tho commission as
serted
while England IL not short OF food
and could probably get along II she had
only herself TO consider. all Is not well
with France and Italy. Their food
shortage is acute. 1t 10 growing
mere 90"