The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
COL. E. NJ. HOUSE
BACK; NO PEACE
TALK BY ALLIES
Head of U. s. Mission Says
Three Conferences Ar.
ranged War Unity.
FIGHTING PLAN APPROVED
One Battle Front Now From
Belgian Coast Through to
Italy, He Explains.
LIGHTING PLAN APPROVED

Neither in the Supreme War Council
nor the Interalled Conference In Paris
nor In the conferences preceding them
in London was the word peace men
toned. That was the most striking
statement made last night by Col Ed
ward NJ. House, who with other mem-
bers Of the American mission, Of which
he Is the head, returned to New York
yesterday.
Almost as interesting was Col. Houses
quiet assertion that at the time Of
his departure from Paris the represen-
tatives OF all the nations in the con-
ferences-which means every member Of
the allied group. even down to Mon
tenegro and Som--were absolutely
unanimous on every plan" lie said he
could say nothing further OH this point
At this time.
But inasmuch as Col. House a. the
representative of President Wilson was
foremost among the conferees in advo-
eating centralized and systematic war
operations against the Central Powers,
with unified direction OF a battle front
from the Belgian coast through to Italy.
the public may deduce a good deal from
the confident manner in which he spoke
Of the proceedings in which he has been
engaged.
BrinEs Affairs TO . "Focus."
This conference" he said. has
brought affairs to "A focus. Up to the
time that 1t began coordination was not
going on very WE'LL.
He said that while the international
conferences had nothing to do with peace
the American mission had, outside the
council room. gathered all available data
for use at a future peace conference.
Everybody knows that there must
be peace conference some time," h.
explained. "Some time the representa-
tives OF all the nations will have 70
get together around a fable. and ali
the countries are of course gathering
information all the time. But think
this fCol. House. who had Just been
speaking Of the war. emphasizes 'this"l
10 tho way to set peace"
From several days observation Of
M American troops In training m
France And talks With Gen. Psrshink
0Ah. 1offte and others Col, House was
able to report that although Gen.
Pershing's task is more dinlcur than
America appreciates tho morale OF the
expedtionary army is excellent and
good progress is being made. One of
his Questioners last night asked:
"will the Americans be able to do
their part when the time comes for their
big drive?'
Absolutely returned Col House. and
carefully added. That doesn't refer 70
any particular date"
Col. House, Major-Gen. Tasker II.
Bliss and other members Of the Ameri-
can mission which left an American
port on October 81 arrived In New York
yesterday from the point Of lsndingN
Col. House will go to Washington to-
night and he and Gen. Bliss will report
to the President tomorrow. Col. House
said it might be possible later to make
public some OF the results Of his trip
abroad which he could not INCEPTION with
out the sanction of the President.
The mission arrived here so unosten-
tatiously that not even the ship news
reporters knew of their coming. Col.
IInuse met newspaper men later at his
home. 115 East Fifty-third street. and
told them that the reports OF the mis-
sion had already heen sent t.. o.Washing-
ton and that In addition he would report
personally tomorrow
WHAT the mission was sent to accom-
plish in the 1nteralled Conference in
Paris has been successfully and satis-
factortly done" ne said. I'm England
and France the influence of the United
States Is paraomunt ! think. In both
countries the morale Is spiendid-the
best have observed on any Of my three
trips since the beginning Of the war in
the course Of which I have altogether
spent nearly a year abroad.
Allies Determined to win.
You mean the morale Of the fighting
forces?" he was-ssked.
IT mean the morale Of the men in uni
form and the people as a whole" he re-
piled. Their determination to win with
out thought OF the cost is admirable"
He spent fourteen days in England
and fourteen In France. Through the
elimination Of speechmaking and both
public and private entertainment the
Interallied War Conference, in which all
the Allies were represented, completed
its work In three sessions. Then the
Supreme War Council. in which sat the
Premiers OF Great Britain, France and
italy and their military aids and COL.
House and his military adviser, Gen.
Bliss. began their deliberations.
The others who had taken part in the
first conference were assigned to MEM
bership In various committees, each
group of experts dealing with their spc-
cial subject, such as food embargo,
finance and other subjects. The Inter
allied Conference discussed merely the
economic situation.
"Eyery one worked hard well and
cordially" said the Colonel
The Supreme War Council, he said,
would be O permanent body. lie had
not expected to sit In It when he went
abroad. but was requested to do so by
President Wilson. He did not know
whether he would continue to be Nom.
her that was for the President to decide.
Allies In Unity Of Purposc.
The Interallpd Conference had its f'rst
meeting on November 90. The delegates
reached complete agreement as to what
was desirable for their countries and
for the allied cause as whole. Al
though their action Is not binding II is
assumed that each country will follow
their advice. One of their decisions was
that the food embargo will go on as
before, Col. House said, which apparently
means that the conferees were not
alarmed by the reported threats Of some
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