New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-17
u. S. Not Satisfied
With Lloyd Georges
Allied Council Plan
By c. w. Gilbert

WASHINGTON, Nov. lo.-Ih ne Ao-
ninistration is not satisfied with the
;nter-allied war council Lloyd George
and the French and Italian governments
have formed. What this government
had in mind was some organization with
executive power, and not merely an ad-
visory body, reporting back to the in
dividual governments, as the Lioyc
George council will do. It is objected
70 this plan that all that will result is
another debating society, and that the
Allies have already too many such So
cieties.
It is surprising how inter-allied or
Plantations have multiplied. There is
almost always a military or q naval
conference going on, and there are sew
eral permanent councils, which sit con-
stantly or at regular intervals. One
such is a new organization in regard
to supplies and their apportionment
among the various powers. This ex-
lists in addition to the c. l. R., the COM
mittee on revitalment, whatever that
means.
The Allies are almost as much organ
lied as the Council Of National De-
fence, and, like this body with the large
name but no power, they do not always
know the names of their committees.
II you ask a member Of the State De-
partment, he always has hard time
recalling just what councils pre- meet
ing and what they are meeting about.
In addition to all th.nsj, mentioned,
there is a financial conference in ses-
sion or about TO meet. 1t is not known
whether this is permanent or not.
Committees Galore,
But No Unity
The point is that with all this ma
chinery for consultation there is no
unity. This country has been unable
TO find any agreement on policies, mill
tary or otherwise. Military conferences
meet and report back to their individual
governments, and then things like the
misguided Italian offence take place.
What this country wanted was not
that an organization for talking over
the war should be created, but that
actual, unified command should Re
lodged somewhere.
With regard TO the grand inter-Al-
lied conference that the British Pre-
mier started. II is by no means clear
that, as the foreign papers saw. this
country will join it. In spite of foreign
dispatches to the contrary, this Ad-
mlnistration was not consulted when
the military committee of Foch. Will
son and Cadorna was named and the
pact between the English. French and
Italian governments was framed. Lloyd
George acknowledged this in his Paris
speech.
Soma people think he lost his head
because OF the Italian disaster and
started the inter-Allied council pre-
maturely on the eve of the Paris con-
ference, when was 20 discuss coordi.
nation. and at which this country
has indicated a desire 70 be heard.
Others think that his motive was 20
litical, 20 avoid the appearance Of be-
ing forced into action by the return of
Northcliffe and the pressure Of this
government.
Lloyd Georges Move
Shrewd Politics
The expectation here Is that the
whole question Of the inter-Allied or
ganization will have 70 be thrashed out
In the Paris conference. That any r.
ganization with executive power viii
now be formed seems unlikely, in view
Of the outcry in England and France
when Il was supposed that the organ
iZation Lloyd George had formed had
executive functions. That cutlery serves
the British Premier. II is his best de-
fence against the chars that he had
been slow 20 establish unified control Of
the war, and IL IS the best proof that
he could have gone no further than he
now has in that direction. Whether
b. design or not. what he has accom-
pllshed has been good politics.
The Administration may have 70 yield
on the question Of having an organi-
zation or a single head of the war
with power. but Il Is expected here that
u will insist az the Paris conference
upon the same kind Of joint control
over naval operations that is estab-
lished over land operations. The Lloyd
George plan leaves out the whole sub
jet Of sea warfare.
II nothing better than an advisory
council Of Premiers and generals is
created by the Paris conference. II Is
not expected here that much good will
result IL will be too much Ike what
the Allies always have had. II won't
insure that unity Of purpose which
Germany's predominAnce IN the Cen
trail group causes. and nothing short Of
that is this eountry's ideal.