The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-04
EXPERTS SAILING
WITH PRESIDENT
TO CONFERENCE
Tons Of Documents Contain
ing International Data TAX
en- Over by Advisers to
Peace Commission.

NEW YORK. Dec. 4.-Striking evil
dence Of the preparedness OF the Am
erican government to enter into peace
negotiations was given in an announce
mcnt that twenty-three members or
an advisory commission OF experts
who have made years study OF poll
teal and economic conditions in Euro
pc and Asia are sailing with President
Wilson and his fellow delegates on the
George Washington.
With them will go several tons OF
documents and maps, which, together
with other records of their investiga-
tions already in Paris, or on the way,
comprise q collection OF international
data said to be without parallel in
history.
These advisers to the peace commits
sion who have CONDUCTED an exhaus-
tive inquiry into foreign affairs by
authority of the president and under
the direction of Col. f. NJ. House. Am
erican civilian member of the Inter
allied Supreme War Council and del
egate to the peace conference, includes
experts in international law, college
professors rated as specialists in the
history and politics of various ma
tons. and officers of the military in
telligence division of the army. U.s.
ing the building of the American Geo
graphical society here, they have &C.
cumulated through studies which be-
gun IN November, 1917, voluminous
records which, because of their great
value, have been guarded day and
night.
In fact, details Of the investigation,
which is known officially as "the in
quiry," have been withheld from pub.
lication until it's results were safe on
shipboard. Except for occasional pub.
LEGATION of the fact that peace data
were being assembled by commits
sion directed by Col House and that
information gained from this source
enabled him. as a member of the in
ternational conference which drafted
the German a rmistice terms, to
amaze" his associates with his init
mate knowledge of European affairs,
the American people have not been
informed OF the activities of an offic-
ial organization without precedent in
the nations history.
Big STAFF Engaged.
More than $50 persons comprised
the PERSONAL of the inquiry. which
was financed out OF the special emerg-
ency war fund placed by congress at
the disposal of the president, accord
ing to an announcement by the Geo.
graphical society. The state and war
departments cooperated and both will
share In future possession of the data
brought together.
The investigation. 1t was stated,
took the form Of "a fact study, con-
Quoted in scientific spirit by special
lists and scholars, both American and
from various European countries af-
fected by the war;" and Sin order to
give high value to any statement of
fact. the inquiry has been entirely in
dependent Of any political hypothesis"
During its progress. the announce
ment said, every important nationality
OF Europe and western Asia sent rep
resentatives here for conference with
the commission and numerous secret
documents together with the texts of
treaties signed during the war, which
lever have been published in full. were
assembled. In it's final stage the in
puiry was centered on territorial mat
ters and the members going abroad
with the president, with the exception
Of representatives of the State De.
partment, are territorial specialists.
Part of the staff in international law.
including David II. Miller, chairman
Of the law committee of the State De-
partment, already is in Europe, it was
stated.
Experts Going Along.
Among members OF the inquiry who
will accompany the president are:
Director-Dr. S. E. Mezes, president
Of the College Of the City Of New York.
Chief Territorial Specialist-Dr lisa.
iah Bowman, director of the American
Geographical Society.
Specialist on Economic Resources
Allyn A. Young, head of the depart
ment Of economies at Cornell Uni
versity.
Charles III. Haskins. dean of the
graduate school of Harvard Univers-
ity, specialist on Alsace-Lorraine and
Belgium.
Give Day. head Of economics depart