New Britain herald., 1917-04-12
WAR CHIEFS COMING FOR BIG CONFERENCE
X. J. Balfour to Be Representative
 of Great Britain

Washington, April 12.-An allied war council, with Great Britain rep resented by no less a parsonage than her Foreign Secretary. Arthur James :Balfour, is about to be held on Amer ican soil. This conference, unique in American annals, will signalize this country's cooperation with the En- tente Allies in the common purpose of defeating Germany. Its chief object will be the merging of Americas gi- ganttc resources with those of the na- tions arrayed against Germany and from it results of incalculable benefit to the common cause in a military and economic sense are expected to follow.
 The coming council was foreshad- owed by an announcement from the state department that a British com !. mission headed by MT. Balfour is ex- pected to arrive within ten days. In addition to the foreign minister the commission will include Admiral de Chair of the British navy, Gen. Bridges of the army and the governor of the Bank of England, attended, by a nu- merous staff
 
 made by the state department goes, but it was learned authoritatively that French commission composed of of ficials and officers equally distin- guished as the British representatives also will be in Washington about the same time. This commission will be headed by NJ. Viviani, at present min- ister of justice in the French cabinet and formerly premier.
 Ambassadors to Participate
 =dt is not known definitely whether any of the other allied powers will send commissioners to Washington, but it is assumed that owing to the difficulties in passage and the probable delay the interests of these govern ments will be confided to their res 1dent ambassadors.
 Beyond the statement that the ob- ject of the commission is to discuss generally questions of policy connect ed with the war; no information was given at the state department I, was made clear, however, that in no way will the United States government depart from the traditional policy of avoiding anything in the nature of po- litical alliances, though of course that NoSo IlOC OAtIuue 1ull ana 1nJ1mate military and naval cooperation in the prosecution of the war.
 While it is by no means certxixhtha4 there will be joint meeting Of the visiting commissions, if the state de- partment should desire to avoid the appearance of an alliance there is certain to be concert of action in some way.
 Instigated by Entente. a.s(.. I
 The conference is stated to have been sought by the allied leaders themselves in order to discuss every phase of the war. No attempt will be made to go into details or technical considerations, as the general policies involved are too stupendous to per- init of it. The caliber of the men sent, particularly Foreign Secretary Balfour, who is remembered here most warmly for his earnest endorse meAt of President Wilson's plan for world federation to insure peace, and Minister of Justice Viviani, one of the first half dozen statesmen of France, is very gratifying to officials Both men it is recalled, have held the post of premier in their respective governments.
 One of the first questions to be taken up will be the distribution of the $3,0OO.000,OO0 loan to the Allies for which President Wilson has asked coiigress to provide. Great Britain has been rendering financial aid on the most extensive scale to several of her allies, and possibly when re- lieved of the necessity for continuing such allowances she may be able to get along with much less assistance from America than she would other wise require. On the other hand the countries whose exchange has suf- fered so heavily, such as Russia and Italy, might find welcome relief from the financial strain by an allotment of American funds, which would have . reassuring effect upon the standing n. these countries in the worlds mar kets.
 Atlantic Ocean the Life Artery. The greatest problem before the conference is stated to be the main- tenance of the flow of American { munitions and food supplies to Europe. This will be sought first by naval cooperation to fight the Ger man submarine, second by construc- 1 tien of huge fleet of wooden mar ; chaptmen to negative it's destructive ness and third by a ways and means +o xncrease American manufacture 1 nd the Allies ability to pay for the products.
 Naval cooperation is understood to contemplate the policing of all North and South American waters by the American navy. allowing the return of 4hA British and French vessels en- | eaged in that work, and the safe puarding by American ships of at least part of the sea lane to Europe. ] whether the latter will necessitate the actual sending of American war craft