New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-16
American Commits
sioner Tells of Full
Unity Accomplish
ed at Paris
Declares Influence
OF y. S. Paramount
Morale of British and
French "Wonderful";
No Dissension at
Council

Colonel z. N. House, who headed the
American mission 70 the inter ?Allied
war conference in Paris, arrived in
New York yesterday on his way 20
Washington 20 make a personal report
to President Wilson that will be re-
plete with vehement utterances o.
leaders OF the Allies that they intend
TO fight the war to an ultimate victory.
The outstanding features of Colonel
Houses impressions OF the war at
close range, as expressed at his home
last evening, are:
THAT the word peace wa, not ut
tered, either officially or unohi-
cislly, during his twenty-eight days in
Europe. All discussion was directed
toward speeding up of the war.
o-That there was complete agree
ment among the delegates TO the
conference as TO plans, both military
and economic, when the sessions OF
that body were concluded. y plan for
financing, fighting and rationing the
war and the ighters was agreed upon.
2-That the morale of the French ana
British people never has been bet
ter during the war. Even the French
pacifsls, of which there are few,
admit that the spirit Of the nation is
more militant than ever before.
d-That Russia still is a complete
enigma to both European and
American statesmen, who have ceased
to cndeayor 10 puzzle out the future
moves of its leaders.
To See Wilson Monday
Colonel House, vino received inter
viewers at his home, at ll5 East Fifty
third Street showed enthusiasm at the
success of the mission, but failed to
90 into details OF its activities because
he has not yet made known his find
ings TO the President. He will leave
for Washington this evening, and ex-
poets 70 have the ear Of President will
son tomorrow afternoon. He ADDED
70 this statement. however, the wish
that the President and Secretary Lam
sing will decide TO make public more
about the work OF the mission, since
the facts are such that they would be
welcomed By the American people.
The complete agreement among the
Allies was pictured by Colonel House
as the one object of the conference, and
tho result that had been obtained in
every instance.
sour work was very satisfactorily car
r;ed out" was the colonePs way Of de-
scribing this unanimity Of opinion. "Of
course, the decisions OF the delegates
are not binding upon their govern
men.s, but their decisions were reached
after consulting the best interests OF
the Allies as body and OF their own
governments"
This announcement was accepted az
meaning that the proposed drawing up
Of a military programme calling for
unity of action among the Allies had
been proposed and adopted; that the
food embargoes, as outlined weeks ago.
would continue. and that there would
be no differences concerning the finan-
cling of the Allied powers.
Brought Things to Focus
"The conference actually brought
things 20 a focus" said Colonel House.
Coordination among the Allies was not
going on we'll up to the time Of this
meeting.
when we arrived in Paris 10 take
part In the first session of the confer
encc, which vas held on November %.
il was found that France, England.
Italy and the United States had from
twelve to fifteen delegates each. In
addition 10 these, there were repre-
seatatives OF all the smaller powers.
Siam, Montenegro, China all had dele
gates.
at was obvious from the start that
if speechmsking were permitted We
would be there until Christmas. For
that reason it was agreed that there
would be no speeches NJ. Clemencesu,
who made a very brief address. ex-
p,aired that We we're there 20 work
and not 20 play, and that was the only
speech made.
Then we divided into committees,
and all the questions that were 10 be
taken up were discussed in their regu-
lar order OF course, cannot tell just
what was done, but I can repeat that
We reached agreements on all OF these
subjects.
1.-THE food embargo will continue as
before. Financial questions we're
worked out and agreed upon, and the
economic situation was taken up in de-
tail. We did not take up war aims,
because il was specifically agreed in ad-
vance that this would not be done"
How long did the military experts
indicate that the war would last!"
asked one audscious interviewer.
~ can only say that nobody spoke
OF peace at any time during my four
weeks abroad, which we're divided