Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-24
FOOD. NOT SOLDIERS,
NEED Of ALLIES. SAYS
Commission MEMBER
First Day of Distinguished
Visitors Is Spent in Paying
Calls in Washington SIM
pIiCity Marks Greetings

WASHINGTON. April 2S.-what the
allies want from the United states more
than anything else * food
There Is no Immediate concern re-
Carding the sending Of troops to
Furope.~ il was officially stated
This vital fact emerged above all 9TH
ers from the trappiugs OF diplomatic
courtesy attending the initial reception
here today OF Foreign Secretary Arthur
]. Balfour and the british commission
nv President Wilson and other Amert-
can officials.
While today was apparently given
over principally to surface courtesies
and diplomatic greetings. the various
sxperts OF both England and America
plunged unostentatiously and at once
into the consideration of the vital PROB
lens OF shippings- munitions. finance
military and naval affairs confronting
the allies since the United States has
declared itself in
. Mr.. Bzlfour conferred with the presi-
dent
President CunIiffe. of the Bank of
England. conferred with Treasury Sec
Rotary McAdOo-
Naval experts OF both nations met
with Secretary Daniels
Military experts OF both countries
talked with Secretary Baker
shipping and trade advisers with their
corps OF statistical and market experts
got down 10 details Immediately with
commerce department officials
Il was a pooling Of British brains
and bitter war experiences with Ameri-
can wealth and resourcefulness.
MUST HAVE FOOD
But il was made clear by high Of
fetal OF the commission that the
thought uppermost in the minds OF the
British representatives is:
The allies must have food
Il wish TO make it plain" said this
spokesman, that We are' not here to
tell you what you must do
We have our own ideas as TO how
you can best help; but We come equipped
with facts to tell you what mistakes
we made and how you can avoid them;
what price is paid for what we have
accomplished, so you may determine
whether YOU think the price is worth
paving TO accomplish those things your
selves
The allies greatest problems-snd the
one which you can best ala our allied
cause by helping solve-is that Of food.
which involves that of shipping.
Please remember that there is no
British food problem, no FreEch Sood
problem. no Italian, nor Russian food
problem IL is all one great question
At a recent allied conference the allied
government agreed 10 pool their food
supplies
While England is not short of food
and probably could get along il she
had only herself TO consider, all is not
well in France and Italy. Their food
shortage is acute. II is growing more
So
This attitude of. the British commits
sion put the old allies and their new
recruit in complete accord on the first
move in the great international war con-
ference.
The trend OF all this governments &C
lions ever since and, in fact, weeks oe-
fore war was declared has been to slim
uIate the production OF food for our peO-
pie at home and then for our allies in
lighting Euroupe-
NOT CONCERNED ABOUT TROOPS.
The British commission is not imme-
diately concerned over the sending OF
troops. IL was explained. Their man
pover is sufficient for the moment, and
me sending Of great masses OF men to
Europe now would make the food prob
Iem critical and out of all proportion TO
the fighting strength gained
Il also want TO make IL clear. con-
tinued this authority, that no step OF
Importance is TO be taken definitely I'M
I'll the French commission has arrived
The French commission is not coming
out OF mere courtesy, but 10 take an &C
tive part in the conferences"
Also" the official went on, allow
me TO make clear the status Of the
British commission
Secretary Balfour's word Is in every
respect absolute All the experts with
MIN are merely 10 answer questions di-
rected TO them through Balfour.
Every question. military, naval, com
merciaI or otherwise must finally be de-
cided between President Wilson and Sec
rotary Balfour-
THE discussions and conferences be-
tween the other officials will be sub
sidiary-
At a brief meeting OF the British
commission today the program for each
division was roughly mapped out
All we hope 10 do is to have the
president and Secretary Balfour settle
broad questions Of principle. basing their
decisions on the sub-conferences and
their own discussions, then leave the
carrying out Of Americas settled part in
the war 10 the various departments
BAIFOUR Is SPOKESMAN.
1t Is not. ! believe, Mr.. Balfour's in
tsntion 70 breach any questions Of inter
national political policy. He Ia prepar-
ed to answer them should they be ask
ed And he will speak for all the al
lies.
But the allies do not desire to make
use OF this situation TO hamper or coerce
the United States in any OF its iuterna-
tionaI relations. All We want to do is
To help.
As to the length OF the cOmmission's
stay that all depends on how long IL :
needed Il may be days, weeks or
should il he asked, A sJan OF experts
will be left in the United States to CO.
operate with the American government
in carrying out the plans made by the
two chiefs.
Americas part In the war Il now be
ing decided. Should an Italian and =
Russian commission visit Washington
later. il will he purely as a matter OF
courtesy.
The vital problems are now before
COonttnusd on Page 2, Col. a.