Judsonia weekly advance., 1917-10-10
Colonel House Undertakes Un- usual Task al Request of
 President Wilson.
DOES NOT AIM TO END WAR
Work Is to Equip Government With Data That Will Be Important When the Possibilities Come
 to a Close.


 was asked by President Wilson to un- dertake the task of preparing data for the use of the United States when the warning nations gather about the con- ference table to discuss peace terms, has entered actively upon the perform ance of his unusual duties. His first move was to select Dr. John H. Finley, commissioner of education of the state of New York, as his chief assistant. Doctor Finley will bring to the work all the information which he gathered on recent trip to Europe, where he made an extensive study of conditions.
 Emphasis is laid upon the fact that the appointment of the presidents in- timate friend and counselor to this po- sition is not indicative of any move for peace at this time but Is merely pre- paratory to the peace conference which must come inevitably at some time in the future.
 The selection of Doctor Finley is in- dfcative of the sort of experts with whom Colonel House will confer. No man or woman with a preconceived opinion which might tempt one to color circumstances so as to prove the cor rectness of personal point of view will be permitted to participate in work where open-mindedness is pre- requisite to the arrival at conclusions that will enable the government to de- termine upon a correct policy.
 Emphasis is put upon the unalter- able determination that neither pro- fessional pacifists nor confirmed mili- tarists can be in the slightest degree useful in preparing statistics for gov ernmental guidance, which must be without taint of bias.
 In an interview Colonel House made it plain that his appointment does not indicate any thought of immediate peace Is now being entertained by the United States government. He agrees with Lord Northcliffe In his message delivered before the American Bank ers' association in Atlantic City that peace seems far off and America should beware the trickery and treach- cry of such propaganda. The truth is that this effort on the part of the United States to analyze war condi- tons and evolve a plan of procedure when hostilities end is a belated one, just as our military preparations Jagged for a period. But now it is 'full steam ahead and damn the tor pedoes" with our army and navy with not a thought of let-up in mind, so from now on there will be urgent prosecution of search for material, his- torical and informative, concerning the world war. This quest of data will keep pace with an energetic prosecu- tion of the contest. but will not halt it In any way. To pause now in any phase of belligerent endeavor might make the prospect of peace even more remote than it seems at present.
 No Sign of Early Peace.
 The government sees nothing what ever to indicate the early approach of peace. nor will Colonel House have anything to do with ascertaining the point of view of either the Entente belligerents or the central powers, or possible terms upon the basis of which they might be willing to enter into ne- gotiations. He will remain in the Unit ed States. It is possible that the state department will be able to afford him aid in the work he has undertaken, but he will not work with the depart ment nor in diplomatic capacity, for maj or informal. He will have no title and will receive no salary.
 The appointment of Colonel House affords another illustration of the ex- banding position of the United States in world affairs. Heretofore the state department has been equipped with virtually all the information that was necessary to the solution of interna- tional problems in which the United States has taken direct interest. The war has brought new problems and projected this country into a field of international activity which 1t has sell dom entered before.
 The questions which will come be- fore the peace conference at the end of the war will be multitudinous. The freedom of the seas. the naturalization of seaways. the political homeogeneity of peoples who claim the right of self government and the disposition of ter ritorial possessions involving economic. historical and political questions, will be some of the many subjects to be considered, and the information upon which conclusions may be based and policies decided must be at hand. With exclusive European problems.