The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1917-04-24
BRITISH MISSION
GETS PLANS READY
FOR CONFERENCES
Members Devote Second Day
in Washington to In
formal Meetings.
tspci.i to tn. Evening woridJ

WASHINGTON. april 2i-Hap2y
over tho cordial reception and tho
honors accorded 90 them Foreign
Minister Arthur ]. Dalfour and tho
British Commission devoted their Sec
ond day In Washington 10 informal
conversations with Government ofn-
cials.
The financial. navy and army ON
GERS and shipping and supply experts
got busy on their respective Jobs. un-
packed boxes OF documents, made
calls. received moro calls and sought
in a variety Of ways to come into
close touch with American plans and
conditions.
A round OF dinners by Cabinet
officers tonight win, entertain separ-
ate groups OF the visitors and then all
go to a reception at the Pan -Amerl-
can building TO meet members OF
Congress, and about every man OF
Importance In Washington official
life. Miss Rankin OF Montana Is the
only woman invited and she only as n
member OF Congress. II Is not known
whether she will attend.
An approximate idea OF the immo-
dlate requirements OF Great Britain.
France and Russia, II Is understood.
already had been obtained from rop-
rosentatives OF those Governments
prior 20 the arrival OF the British
commission.
All negotiations affecting political
and diplomatic policies will be con-
Quoted directly by the President, Mr.
Balfour and Mr.. Lansing. But even
these questions will be considered at
informal conferences largely partak-
Ing the form OF unofficial discussion.
In the discussions Of general pol
ioies Mr.. Balfour will act ss spokes-
man for Great Britain, France, Rus
sis. Belgium. Italy, Serbia and Rou-
mania, all Of which Governments have
reached hard and fast agreements
setting forth the terms under which
peace proposals will be considered.
The French Commissioners fire.
auently will meet with those repre-
Benting Great Britain at tho French
and British Embassies, and no move
will bo made by Mr. Balfour without
consultation with tho representatives
OF France.
Tho Government will accord to both
the full measure OF Official honors.
Mr.. Balfour will be invited to address
Congress, Rs will also the French
Minister of Justice.
Admiral de Cnair and Vice AdL..rRl
Corhenrat will give to Secretary Dam
iels and the members of the Board OF
Naval Operations the fullest details
OF the naval undertakings Of their re-
spective Governments.
without intruding in the slightest
degree, the British military experts
have confirmed the judgment of Of
ficlals OF this Government that q great
deal OF time was saved in recruiting
an efficient army force by resortlna
TO tho seleetive draft methods pro-
posed by tho bill now enarossina tho
attention OF Congress.
On tho naval side. the British ex-
perts already have furnished convince
ing evidence that the greatest need OF
the Governments now at war with
Germany Is for more cargo ships. The
plan already adopted by the Amerl-
can Government to build light draught
wooden ships for this purpose has
been fully Endorsed by the British
naval oiiicials.
One OF the visitors. refleotina tho
opinions that prevail among the DO
litieal, army and navy representatives
sent by Great Britain 10 that the three
needs at present in their relative i'm.
portanee are for money, ships and
men-