The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-12-20
COL. HOUSE. BACK
IN UNITED STATES
LEADER OF MISSION SAYS ALLIES
UNITED.
PEACE WAS NOT DISCUSSED
Declares Nothing Was Done by. AmerI
cas- Representatives That Was
BInding-WiII See Presi- ..
dent Today.

New York, Dec. 17.-Col. z. NJ.
Houpse, who headed the United States
delegates to the interallied conference
helu in Paris. arrived here. He thus
summed up the result of the confer.
ence:
"The work was satisfactorily done,
The mission was great success.
'The representatives agreed on
everything. They got together on eco
nonic and Industrial conditions, EN-
barge, finance and food.
Nothing was done by Americas
representatives that was binding. 1t Is
up to this country to decide whether
the plans will be acceptable. The whole
matter depends on the president.
"We never discussed peace. Nc
mention Of peace was made"
, Colonel House will go to Washington
at once to report to the president.
Work Is Done Quickly.
'"The whole work of the conference
took just thirty days." said Colonel
House. %"Two weeks were spent in
Paris and two weeks In Versailles
There were three sittings of the con,
ference. We cut out practically all en-.
tertainments, as our mission was one
of business. p"
"The interallied conference should
be called the priority board. 1t was
Mt the conference that the supreme wal
council was proposed. This was held
at Versailles. The prime ministers OF
Great Britain, France and Italy at
tended it, each with military repre-.
sentative. This country was represent
ed by General Bliss and myself.
"The men who went with me to the
interallied conference in an Industrial
Connection took a load off me. They
discussed matters with which I was
not conversant, Alone, my visit would
have been futile.
N... Praise for His Aids.
'"The men selected for the mission
from this country were perfectly fa
miliar with the situation and were
ready to take up every point.
General Bliss made a fine impress
Stop over there; so did Admiral Ben
SON. saw a good deal Of Vice 'Ad
miral Sims--a fine fellow, well liked
He has the respect of everybody.
"War aims, as far as this country
Is concerned, were not touched upon
at least, would not discuss them"
$780,. Saw Troops Of Pershina.
Colonel House then told of visit he
made to the front.
II went to the front ten days ago
with General Pershing," he said. >"The
general has a very difficult task and
he is doing it well. The Americans al
the front are in good shape.
|, II cannot say when the United
States troops will begin their often.
sive. These are things I don't want
to touch on. "a" Fl. '' tsa'5
IT,. Benson and Bliss Back. 'nsy
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE military
and naval heads Of the house mission
to the allied conference in Paris re-
turned to Washington. s.f..'
They brought with them optimistic
reports, re-echoing the sentiment OF
General 'Pershing that we're going
to break the German line with a hui.
man wedge" III .". ''.<~ rs
Colonel House is expected here to-
day to report to the president.
Admiral Benson, chief of naval op.
erations, and General Bliss, chief of
the army general staff, arrived from
New York. " '-'1F '''.'
Admiral Benson had a long confer
en.e with Secretary Daniels and sub
mitted his formal report.
General Bliss was closeted with Sec
rotary Baker more than two hours.
None Of these officials would discuss
details of the conferences. All indi-
Gated, however, that conditions are
highly satisfactory.
& : tgha