The Monticellonian., 1917-10-05

1 this government probably will not at
tempt to aid in the settlement of tradi-
tional European quarrels, except pos
sibly as n matter of friendly interest
If opportunity arises.
House Likely to Be Delegate.
1t was said unofiicially that when
| the time comes to organize a peace
conference. Colonel House, by virtue
of his present assignment, would in
| all probability be selected as enc of
| the delegates from the United States.
It will be a part o. Colonel Houses
task to gather intelligence relating TO
/ commercial, economic and political sit
uationS abroad He will keep abreast
of developments in all non-military af-
fairs.
Colonel House will have associated
with him. as has been stated, several
experts, probably college professors,
| economists and specialists in CONNER
eial and financial affairs. The work
he is to perform will not be connected
with similar undertakings in any of
the countries with which the United
State department officials, when re-
minded of the statement that the
United States would be interested
! in purely European territorial ques
! tons, answered that the American
army was in France. and that the
| United States would, of course. have
! delegates at the peace conference.
Colonel House will be expected to gath
er SPECIFIC information by which
American peace delegates can follow
the conference intelligently.
These data will be compiled pri-
marily to assist American representa-
| tives at the peace conference after the
war, but may also be used in the mean
time to help guide the government in
formulating policies. 1t has no bear
ing on peace negotiations or negotia-
tions of any kind with foreign govern
ments, which, of course, come within
the province of the president and the
state department.
The United States government isn't
getting ready to enter into peace ne
gotiations with Germany isn't going
to NEEDLE in strictly European ques-
tions relating to the war. and isn't me-
gotiating just yet ON the problems of
peace with the Entente, as has fire.
quently been surmsed.
Must Have Data in Advance.
1t is important for the United States
government now and will be even
more important later on to have So
called who's who and what's what
in the war in order that all phases in
volyed may be properly understood by
reference to data compiled in advance.
In time of war the government that
fails to prepare for peace will ulti-
mately be at disadvantage, says the
Philadelphia Public Ledger in an edi-
torial. The representatives of Great
Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia,
found this out after the fall of Ma
poleon when they met Prince Talley
rand at Vienna. Talleyrand, sent by
France, had learned enough of the sit
uation as it concerned all of the small
er European powers and as it con-
cerned much of the opinion of Europe
to turn the tables upon the four great
powers and to stand as the champion
of the public rights of Europe.
Prince Talleyrand Unanswered, and
successfully, according to the rules
of secret diplomacy. He really
worked i'll behalf of selfish and ma
tionaliStie interests. The partitioning
of Europe by the congress of Vienna
was the outcome of arbitrary compro-
mise; it was prolific of future wars.
The knowledge which the great Dip
lomatic exponent of France displayed
was more comprehensive than that of
his foes, that is all. Excepting that
he recognizes the need of precise i'm
formation, President Wilson acts up.
on a principle different from that
which guided Taleyrand. He will
urge this nation into no alliance. even
with the nations with whom it is as
ISOLATED in the common war against
the Teutonic powers. He proposes
simply to equip himself with knowl-
edge pertinent to the rights of all ma
tons in common with America as they
may be concerned by the proceedings
of the peace conference.
To Show War Aims.
In this spirit the president has
asked Colonel House to survey the
field of military, naval and political
conditions in the countries of our en-
emies and our friends; TO get at the
economic political and emotional state
of things in every country, and TO tell
frankly to Great Britain, Russia,
France, Italy and the neutral powers
tl>e things that we are doing and that
we intend to do in the war. More
over, an attempt will be made to lift
the heavy curtain of censorship in
| Germany and Austria Hungary in or
der to spread among their peoples
comprehension of American war aims
and potentialities.
Officials are anxious that no impress
sion should be created, as result OF
Colonel Houses appointment, of any
intention TO start peace negotiations
| in the near future. SO far as the at
titude of the United States is con-
cerned, the presidents reply to the
pope still remains the unaltered view
of the government here.
The appointment of Colonel House
is recognition by the government of
the fact that the adjustment of peace
terms will be a very complicated pro-
| ceeding Many points of dispute must
be settled. Questions of all sorts,
economic, political, and historical, will
| come up for discussion, and the Amer
lean delegates must be forearmed with
a mass of information and statistical