The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-12
PLANNING TO HOLD
INIT R NATIONAL
WAR COUNCIL
Commissions of Entente Powers
to Meet in Washington
NO ALLIANCE COM TEYPlATfD
United States VIII Not Change Long.
Established Policy of
independence.
NO ALLIANCE COM rEHPlATfD


within a few weeks of great inter
national war cohncil was foreshadow.
ed by an announcement from the state
department Yesterday that British
commission, healed by Arthur j. Bal
four, minister cd foreign affairs, is ex-
pected to arriveiwithin 10 days to dis
cuss with the government here ques-
tions connected with the conduct OF
the war. In addition to the foreign
minister. the commission will include
Admiral de Chair of the British navy,
Gen Bridges of the army and the gov
ernor OF the bank OF England, attend
ed by numerous staff.
This was as far as the announce
ment made by the state department
goes, but it was learned authoritative
ly that a French commission compos-
ed of officials and officers equally dis
tinguished will also be in Washington
about the same time. This commits
sion will be headed by NJ. Viviani, at
present minister Of justice in the
French cabinet and formerly premier.
1t is not known definitely whether
any of the other allied powers will
send commissioners to Washington,
but it is assumed that. owing to the
difficulties in passage and the prob
able delay, the interests of these gov
ernmepts win be eonfided to their
resident ambassadors
Beyond the statement that the OBJ
ject of the commission is to discuss
generally questions of policy connect
ed with the war, no information was
given at the state department. II was
made clear, however that in no way
will the United States government de-
part from the traditional policy of
avoiding anything In the nature of po-
litical alliances. though of course that
does not exclude full and intimate
military and naval cooperation in the
prosecution of the war While II is
by no means certain that there will
be joint meeting of the visiting com
missions il the state department
should desire to avoid the appearance
Of an alliance, there is certain to be
concert of action in some way.
The conference is stated TO have
been sought by the allied leaders them
selves in order to discuss every phase
of the war. No attempt will be made
to 80 into details or technical con-
siderations as the general policies in
volved are too stupendous to permit
of it. The caliber of the men sent,
particularly Foreign Secretary Bal
four, who is remembered here most
warmly for his earnest Endorsement
of President Wilson's plan for world
federation to insure peace. and Min
lister of Justice Viviani, one of the
first half-doZen statesmen OF France,
is very gratifying to officials. Both
men. it is recalled, have held the post
Of premier in their respective govern
ment.
One OF the first questions to be
taken up will be the distribution of
the $3.00O,000, 600 loan to the allies,
for which President Wilson has
asked Congress to provide. Great
Britain has been rendering financial
aid on the most extensive scale to
several of her allies and possibly
when relieved Of the necessity for con
tinuing such allowances she may be
able to get along with much less as
sistance from America than she would
otherwise require. On the other hand,
the countries whose exchange has suf-
fered so heavily, such as Russia and
Italy, might find welcome relief from
the financial strain by an allotment
of American funds. which would have
a reassuring effect upon the standing
of these countries in the worlds mar
kets