The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

Peace Conference. the most complete In
formation possible. from the best and
latest sources. for consideration by the
Peace Commissioners"
With such q beginning 1t would be
unnecessary TO shy, except for Mr..
STEED's information, that progress
was rapid. We quote again from the
official announcement, with italics for
Mr.. STEED's eye:
''It WAS soon evident that the scope
Of the inquiry would demand not only
a personnel Of sise and quality hitherto
unknopn IN any such ,oork, but had
quarters where safety from enemy ac-
,ivity OF records and secret documents
would be assured"
Under careful guard night and
day" the work went on to it's con-
summation and then the steamers be-
gan to sail with their precious car
goes Of lore. The official announce
ment OF this triumph In research said
Of the bales OF wisdom:
"A large part of them are now on the
way TO Europe. and by the time the
President. the other Peace Commission
ers and their STATS. together with the
twenty-three members OF the inquiry, ar
rive in France the material used will
be ready for them"
The reference to "twenty.three
members of the inquiry" must not go
unexplained. The official statement
says that "the inquiry has had n per-
sonnet Of about 80 people" Why
all hands did not sail with the treas
ure trove Is not explained, for every
one whose name was given out Is
either a professor, q dean, q doctor
or q specialist; and some, we believe.
are all four. Historians. economists,
lawyers, strategists, biologists, geog-
raphers, photographers and cartog-
raphers contributed to the cargoes
Of the argosles Of eruditlon. Their
accumulations dealt with political
history, internati onal law, economics,
geography. photography, cartogra-
ply, education and irrigation. To
indicate the scope Of the research let
us quote from the Administration an
nouncement the points treated under
ono haad-Econouico.
Raw materials. coaling stations, ca
bic stations, port works. tariffs and Gus
toms unions. free ports. open ports, re-
gicnal Industrial development. self-sufi-
cheney. trafiic routes in relation to boun-
daries and material resources, including
food. minerals, water power, fuel, &C."
Where's your British statistician
now, Mr.. STEED? Is 1t not evident
that the data taken abroad by the
Presidential party are, like the per-
sonnet Of the collectors, "of size and
quality hitherto unknown?
How much did 1t weigh? we hear
some gross fellow asking; and how
many soldiers Christmas boxes could
have been sent in the cargo space &C.
cupied by file of reports comparing
the skull capacity of the modern
Esthonian with that Of the primitive
resident OF the Ne0nderthal? We
cannot say; such rude voices should
he silent amid the contemplation OF
the great educational procession that
has safely passed the perils of the
sea and is about 10 cause Europe TO
know itself for the first time. They
should be silent because Of national
pride In an accomplishment which,
we are confident, will compel Mr..
Sized to pity. rather than to censure,
his own Governments activities.
Van after van will lay in the Peace
. Chamber the precious loads of the
American Statistical Discovery of Eu-
rope. And upon this scene OF de-
voted preparedness and efficiency will
come poor old CLEMENcEAU with only
q few notes on the back of an en-
velope and never a map OF Europe
except that which is engraved on the
( heart Of every Frenchman!