Evening star., 1917-05-04
ENGLISH MISSION
W|DENS ITS SCOPE
Members Confer With House
Naval Committee and Coun-
Gil of Defense.
TAKE UP TRADE QUESTIONS

The British mission today began wider
and more public conferences with
American officials. Rear Admiral Dudley
r. S. de Chair conferred with the House
naval affairs committee this morning.
Later in the day Foreign Secretary
Balfour had an appointment with the
council of national defense. where ne
was to answer questions.
With the departure of the French
mission, the conferences between
British and American officials turned
more specifically to economic and trade
matters, particularly to shipping and
food. For the last few days the ques-
tion of this country sending troops to
France. course urgently recommended
by Marshal Joffre, has held CHIEF place
in the councils of the allied visitors.
The conferences today were to afford
opportunity for questions by American
officials.
Admiral de Chairs visit with the
naval affairs committee was br1er. IN
reply to questions about the German
submarine output he estimated that
they now are turning out about three
a week. He was questioned about the
possibilities of increasing this produc-
ton.
Mr.. Balfour at State Department.
At 10 o'clock Mr.. Balfour had a con-
ference at the State Department with
Secretary Lansing. Later he went into
a conference at the mission headquar-
ters with members of the mission and
of the British embassy staff regarding
el,;nn;pD food md ypnpifiOnS
Now that the extent and means OF
American cooperation have been out
lined it is necessary for the various IN
terests within the British mission to
agree among themselves the proportion
ate share each shall receive. Now that
it is known, in a general way, how
much shipping America can supply, Mr.
Balfour must decide what proportion
shall go to food and what to munitions.
Admiral de Chair was accompanied to
the House by Admiral Benson. Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt will entertain
him at dinner tonight. Gen. Bridges
left today for New York. and Ian NAL
colin returned from that city. where
he addressedj the Canadian Red Cross.
Mr. Balfour will speak before the
House when he visits the Capitol to-
morrow. After he makes a short ad-
drs-s he will visit the Supreme Court.
Invitations to Tour Country.
Invitations have been received from
all parts of the country desiring q visit
from the mission. No npal plans have
yet been made. bsyon4 tn conteni-
plated trip to New York city.
When Mr.. Balfour went to the State
Department this morning he was Ac-
companied by Lord Eustace Percy and
Sir Eric Drummond. The presence OF
these two trade experts was taken to
indicate that the shipping problem was
foremost among the subjects discussed.
Wheat is considered by members of
the mission as the principal food need
Of Great Britain. Already plans have
been considered. 1t was stated. to use
corn in large measure as substitute
for wheat. 1t was. recalled that In
Italy and in Poland there existed an in
tense prejudice to the Use OF corn.
which interfered with the efficacy Of
the relief commissions. No such preju-
dice, it was stated. exists in either
England or in France.
Potato bread also is being consid-
cred, though 1t Is not yet in great
vogue, and Great Britain already is
learning the use of sweet potatoes. par
ticularly Of "yams." which are being
shipped in from the West Indies.