New-York tribune., 1918-03-20
Mystery Shrouds
Commission Soo,1
To Visit Allies
George Creel Denies Mis-
sion Is Sent by the
Government

George Creel Yesterday threw hint
Of mystery about the commission Of
labor men, college professors and soco-
logical workers soon to leave the
United States for France and England
by issuing q denial that the commits
sion is being sent BY the government
Here is the Creel statement:
I'm response to inquiries, the Com
mittec on Public Information author
izes the statement that neither the
committee nor any other department
Of the government is sending q delega-
ton of labor leaders and sociological
workers to Europe. no such delegation
has been chosen by the Committee on
Public Information, and none is in
contemplation
Does Not Deny Mission Will Go
Mr.. Creel does nc. deny that such
delegation viii shortly leave New York
for Europe with the full approval of
the government; that its members
other than those representing organ
lied labor have been selected by gov
ernment officials, or that he had been
consulted on the makeup Of the com
mission and its work.
According to the information in pos
session of The Tribune. the plan to
send a labor delegation abroad was
first broached several months ago and
approved by Samuel Gompers and other
leaders OF the American Federation Of
Labor. The first difficulty was in find
ing sufficiently large number OF labor
men OF Iirst Importance who could be
spared from their work in this country.
and the plan was, for the time, aban-
doned
More recently the plan has been re-
Nived and on Saturday was in such
shape that Samuel Gompers speaking
before the National Civic Federation.
made public announcement that it
would soon leave for the other side.
Previously men and women who had
been selected for the trip had been in
Wtcd to attend and. on acceptance, mott
ned to be ready to sail on given date.
Gompcrs Picked Labor Men
'T echnically, Mr. Creel is right in
denying that this is a government mis-
sion,' said one to whom the plans for
the trip have been known for some
months. "The labor members are SO
iccted by Mr.. Gompers with the full
approval OF the administration. The in
vitatlon to all was extended with full
approval Of the government various
oftlclais being consulted in the make
up Of the party
at is my information that Mr.
Creel was one Of those consulted and
the presence Of Clarence Darrow
counse for the alleged Los Angeles
u ines dynamters. on the mission
has been credited to his influence.
technically. the mission goes to
England on the invitation OF the Brit
lsh government Presumably the same
IS true Of the visit to France. This is
a diplomatic necessity for it bars the
door TO any charge that may be made
that the United States government is
interfering in the internal affairs Of
those countries, charges that might
be made with some effect by those
whose views they are expected to com
bat, If this were not the case
For this reason. | understand the
expenses OF the commission will be
charge on the British government
though / am not positive of this"
A possible explanation Of Mr.. Creel,s
haste in issuing his statement was
offered by a labor leader last night.
"The persons asked to join the
party" he sad. were impressed with
the necessity of preserving secrecy.
T. was apparently the idea to get thc
party abroad and IN action before anv
announcement WAS made. That bn
should now send forth the impres-
sion that ii is not in any way a gov.
crnment affair is unfortunate. for il
must serve to lessen the influence If
its members abroad"