New-York tribune., 1918-03-21
Unready Neus

@N TUESDAY The Tribune printed inc
Z news that a group of labor leaders.
economists, sociologists and pub
licists was soon to be sent by the United
States government to England and France
to carry the message Of Americas Will to
war to the people of those countries.
George Creel, chairman of the Committee
on Public Information, seemed greatly an
noyed. He wired as follows:
"Washington, March Is.
"To the Editor of The Tribune.
''Sir: There is not a word OF truth IN
the statement in this mornings Trlbune
that the Committee on Public 1nforma-
ton or any other department OF govern
ment is sending a delegation OF thirty
labor leaders, college professors and
sociological workers to England CO.
France. No such delegation has been
chosen by this committee, nor Will De
chosen, and utter baselessness OF state
ment could have been discovered had you
made the slightest effort at inquiry
1t is evident that Mr.. Creel is out of
touch with his own memory. Perhaps too
many things are going on, even IN MS o""
department of government.
The facts about this commission and its
errand, as The Tribune has them, are as
follows:
The idea Of sending group OF unohcial
Americans to England and Franco % eA"
change views and information with the
people OF those countries, themselves rep
resentinr not the American government,
but the American people, is tour or '''e
months old Whose 1dca it was in the hrsf
place it would now be difficult TO say PoS-
sbly it was spontaneous.
In The Tribunes private letter mes t"ele
is correspondence on the subject as 1ar oacN
as last October. The understanding was
that the British and French governments
would receive the members OF the commls-
sion as guests, entertain them ana give
them access to all sources OF ln1ormatloh.
The details were to be worked out tacttully.
The personnel was very important ne
members of the commission mad TO De ac-
ceptabe not only to the American govern
ment but especially to the British ana
French governments. Great care was taken
with the list. Only few days ago 1t was
submitted to Mr.. Creel, chairman of the
Committee on Public Information, for final
approval He blue pencied it. a bit. His
say was final.
The question as to whether the American
government "sends" the commission or only
approves it's personnel and errand is not
very material.
The commission is authorized but its eX-
istence is unofficial. That is the technique
of these recurring international visits. The
government is technically not responsible
All of these details and distinctions The
Tribune knew and had known for a long
timc and that brings to the matters
most delicate aspect. Since the publication
Of the news on Tuesday there has been a
great row to find out who spilled the Sc
crct Three members of the Tribune staff
knew the facts So, also, did great many
other persons, including friends of Creel
and the whole British Embassy staff. There
fore, it seems now proper to say that the
news was brought into the Tribune office
by a reporter who knew absolutely nothing
about it beforehand. He is the reporter
who covers labor matters. He was asked
10 write d memorandum telling WlleIt Hc
got the story, and this is it:
"My story came from close friends OF
Mr.. Crecl, who, in giving it out had nc
thought am sure. of doing anything tC
annoy him. Samuel Gompcrs had said r
public speech reported in Sundays
papers that labor group would soor
leave for Europe. That was where ] go
the tip. Knowing that Greet would have
am interest in such q thing and nigh
have talked about it, | set out TO canvas:
his acquaintances in New York. Severa
of them told me what was going on
There certainly was no idea on my part tt
embarrass MIR. Creel"
The tip came from Samuel Gompcrs, ant
the confirmation from friends OF Gcorg
Crcel, who put the reporter under no bon,
Of confidence.
The reporters statement shows that tn
story did not leak from the British govern
ment, which must now be accepted as tn
sponsor of the party. If the British repre-
sentatives do not know the source Of tn
leak they will know it when they read thi
article. But any differences there NAV b
between the British and Mr.. Creel on thi
point are really unimportant They affec
only Mr. Crcel-not the project.
Discriminating Against the Farmer
To the Editor of The Tribune.