The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1918-12-05
STAFF OF EXPERTS
| WITH PRESIDENT
D.rtv to Comprise Twenty Three
Members of Former Advisory
Commission who made years
Study in Europe and Asia

Now York, Dec. Striking evil
ssnee of the preparedness of the
merican government to enter into
paee negotiations, was given here to-
.;oht in an announcement that %
2embers of an advisory commission
4 experts who have made years
xtudy of political and economic condi-
Ions in Europe and Asia will sail
IN President Wilson and his fellow
zelecates on the George Washington.
with them will go several tons of
documents and maps, which, togeth-
4 with other records Of IT,, investi-
eations already in Paris, y 1 on the
sav. comprise collection Of interna-
t;onal data said to be without paral-
n in history.
These advisors to the peace COM
saission, who have conducted an ex-
austive inquiry into foreign affairs
by authority of the president and un-
lar the direction of Colonel E. M.
House. American civilian member of
tbe inter-allied supreme war council,
md a delegate to the peace confer
<nce. include experts in international
..sw college professors rated as spec
Ialists in the history and politics of
Various nations, and officers of the
Military intelligence division of the
army.
Using the building of the American
geographical Society here, they have
accumulated through studies which
began 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
hurry" have been withheld from pub
|lication until its results were safe on
shipboard Except for occasional
publication of the fact that peace data
was being assembled by Colonel
House, and the information gained
from this source enabled him, as a
member of the international confer
ence which drafted the German armis-
tee terms, to 'amaze" his associates
with his intimate knowledge of Euro
mean affairs, the American people
have not been informed Of the activi-
ties of an official organization with
out precedent in the nations history.
More than $50 persons comprised
the personel of the inquiry, which was
financed out Of the special emergency
war fund placed by congress at the
presidents disposal, according to an
announcement by the Geographical
Society. The state and war depart
ments co-operated, and both will
share in future possession of the data
brought together.
The investigation, it was stated,
took the form of "a fact study, con-
Quoted in scientific spirit by spec
ialists and scholars, both American
and from various European countries
affected by the war;" and, in order
to give high value to any statement
of fact, the inquiry has been entirely
independent of any political hypothe-
sis"
During its progress, the announce
ment said, every important national
ity Of Europe and Western Asia sent
representatives. here for conference
with the commission and numerous
secret documents, together with the
texts Of treaties signed during the
war, which never have been published
IN full, were assembled. In its final
stages the inquiry was centred on
territorial matters, and the members
going abroad with the president, with
the exception Of representatives of
the state department, are territorial
specialists.
Part Of the staff in international
iaw' including David H. Miller, chair
man Of the law committee Of the state
department, already is in Europe, it
was stated.
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