The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-07
MANY EXPERTS
GO WITH WILSON
Advisory Commission Includes
More Than Score of Quail
fed Members.
TONS OF DOCUMENTS
PLACED ON THE VESSEL

I1Onlerence Odlu W CoIllpilSS
Collection of international
Data Without Parallel in
History-Inquiry Under Way
for Many Months.
Now York. Dec. 3-striHing e.,i-
sience CT the preparedness OF the
American government to enter peace
negotiations was given here tonight
In an annoueemet that 23 members
OF an advisory commission of experts
Who have made a years study OF po-
i.rscal and economic conditions in Eu-
rope and Asia VIII sail with President
Nilsson and his fellow delegates on
the George Washington.
With them will so several tons c9
ltocuments and maps, which, toSeth-
es- with other records OF their invest
cations already in Paris OR cn the
way comprise collection OF inter
national data said to be without par
alle1 in history.
These advisers to the peace commits
sien; who have conducted an exhaust
i've inquiry into foreign affairs by au-
thority Of the president and under
the direction OF Col. e. NJ. House,
American civilian member OF the in
terailied supreme war council and 4
delegate to the peace conference, !n-
clude experts in international law.
college professors rated as specialists
in the history and politics OF various
nations and officers of the military in
telifgence division of the army. Csins
tEe building of the American Geo
graphical Society here they have ac-
enmalated, through studies which
they began in November, 1917, volu,.1-
inous records which, because Of the;
Z great value, have been guarded night
ard day
III fact, details Of the Investigation
! which IS known officially as the IL
auiry," have Deen withheld from pub
,,ieatioE until its results were SAFE ea,
ship board. Except for occasiona! pub
lieation Of the fact that peace da;a
,was being assembled by a connlis-
sion directed by Col. House and tha;
information gained from this source
enabled him, as a member Of the N.
Iernational conference which drafted
the German arn,istice terms. &c
amaze his associates viii. his !ntl-
mate knowledge OF European ;.Fa1:s
the american people have not heen
informed oi the activities of On Of
se:at organization without prcc*dSa'
IL the nations history.
Mcre than 80 persons comprised
TIE. personnel of the inquiry. v-h:ch
ay;ss financed out of the special einc:-
gency war fund placed by congress
NJ the presidents disposal, according
10 an announcement by the Geo
graphical Society. The state and war
departments cooperated and both viii
share n future possession OF the data.
The investigation, it was sta,cG.
took the form Of "a fact study, con
Quoted IL scientific spirit by special
lists and sch GLARS. both American 2nes
from various European. countries a
feeted by the war" and III oroer %
give high value to any statement @,
fact, the inquiry has been e1:tirely IN
dependent OF any political hypothesis
During its progress, tie announce
,1aent said, every important national
itv OF Europe and Western Asia sent
representative for conference with
the commission ard numerous secre;
documents, together with the texts
os treaties signed during the war.
which reyer have been published IL
suU. were assembled. In its ifl*'
stages the inquiry was centercti OF
territorial matters. and tae menlters
going abroad with the president, w-tn
Inc exception Of representatives. OF
the state department, are terrltorlal
specialists. Part of the staff in in-
tarnational law. including David H.
Miller, chairman Of the law commit
tee Of the state department, already
is in Europe, it was stated.
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.
Isaiah Bowman, director OF the Amer
scan Geographical Society.
Specialist on economic resources.
AIlyn A. Young, Iicdu oi- lilS VA :
ment of economies at Cornell Uni
yersity.
Charles H. Haskins, dean Of the
graduate school Of Harvard Univer-
sity, specialist on Alsace-Lorrain" anG
Belgium.
Give Day, head of economies de-
partment at Yale, specialist CT the
Balkans.
w. E. Lunt. professor of history at
Haverford College. specialist III North
ern Italy.
P. a. Lord. professor Of history at
Harvard, specialist on Russia and
Poland.
Charles Seymour, professor of his
tory at Yale, specialist cn Austria
Hungary.
W. L. western1ann. professor Of
history at the University Of Wiscoa-
sin. specialist on Turkey.
G. L. Beer. formerly of Colunl'.ia
University. specialist on colonla! rs