Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1917-05-31
Proposals Of. the Allies

One of the proposals from the
allied governments now before this
government is that German and
Austrian prisoners of war now In
England and France, and contrbut-
ing to the food problem of those
countries, be sent to the United
States.
The proposal contemplates the Sc
lection of these prisoners who are
skilled in agriculture, putting them
on the land in this country, and, I'M
der restrictions, of course, permit
ing them to earn a living wage in
growing food. Such plan, while
it comes now from the allies, fits in
with the original thought of the war
department of putting our own in
termed Germans and war prisoners
on the western reclamation projects.
Ships returning from England to
the United States are coming quite
light as Europe has little to send to
this country at this time. Further,
some of those returning ships are
targets for German submarines.
Possibly, according to the idea of the
allies, if they carried German pris-
oners the German submarines would
not be so ready to shoot. But even
without this consideration, France
and England are finding their war
prisoners a heavy burden. The
whole subject is now being threshed
out within this government and in
conference with the French and
British commissioners.
While conversations or conferen-
ceS between this government and
the two commissions have not pro-
ceeded far, it was apparent today,
in fact, heavily emphasized within
the American administration, that
Great Britain and France are now
asking from the United States pre-
eisely the same thing. How irrecon-
cilable are the varying requests is
yet to be determined.
Britain has made it plain that she
wants ships Lloyd George in his
recent speech and Mr.. Balfour in
his talks here, have left no doubt on
that subject. Now comes the FIRE.
nch nilsson, made clear through the
Joffre statement of yesterday, with
it's plea for men first. Britain, it
is we'll known, is not suffering for
men on her section of the front.
She is suffering for ships to victual
the British Isle and to carry supp
lies. German submarines have made
real inroads on shipping. Hence
her request.
On the other hand France is not
suffering from this danger, but,
having sacrificed so heavily on the
earlier stages of the war, now needs
infantry. Moreover, France is NOV
ed more by sentiment than is Brit
ian. Hence the Joffre demand.
Is it possible to grant both? That
is what this government must deter
mine. And in the determination the
question of ships is the big question
for an army over seas means more
than ships. Awhile ago the best
judgement must now be revised
News from the carefully guarded
and means indicates that the reve-
nue. bill which that committee pres.
emily is to bring in is to start rue
ton. Various authorities now name
June 18th and July 1 as possible adj
journment dates.
This is in the face of the fact that
the Democratic caucus in the house
has seriously resolved to hold the
session to the consideration of wal
measures, while the Democratic sen.
ators express willingness to follow
that program. Word has been pass.
ed through the executive depart
ments to refrain from making any
legislative demands that are not alb
solutely vital. Nevertheless, much
can be asked in the name of war
and observers are growing pessi
mistic as to adjournment within {
reasonable time.