New-York tribune., 1919-08-29
Wilson Asks Congress
for $825,OOO to Con-
tinue Paris Committee
Work Until January j
CrillOn Hotel
Cost $350,00O
President Says Enormous
Cost of Telegraph and
Cable Tolls Is Extra
Neto York Tribune
yfnShi,1ctou R1,rec-f

Washington Btreou
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2S.-President
Wilson to-day informed Congress that
the expenses of the American peace
commission, actual and estimated, will
amount to S1,506,776.63 if the Paris
conference lasts until the end of this
year.
The President asked, in a special
message, that Congress Immediately ap-
propriate $825,00O to cover the ex-
penses Of the commis ssion from July l.,
when his special war fund lapsed, until
the end Of the year. He recalled that the
Secretary of State and the secretary
OF the Treasury at his direction on two
previous occasions had asked appropri-
ations to support the American COM
mission, but that Congress had not
acted on these requests.
The President said he was now being
compelled to make use of the emer-
gency fund OF the State Department to
meet the expenses Of the commission.
He admitted the work Of the commits
sion had been expensive, but he added:
II have no hesitation in saying that,
considering the magnitude Of the task
and the extent to which the commits
sion was obliged to rely upon its own
agencies instead of upon those avail
able in normal times the expenses have
been and are very modest"
n~sc AL. =
In his original request for funds for
the American commission, submitted
through Secretary Lansing in the clos
ing days Of the last session, the Pres
ident asked for $5,00O,00O. He ex-
planned in his message to-day that
part of that sum was to have been
used Ito defray the expenses of Amer
lean participation in tho various COM
missions and agencies which the treaty
with Germany provide shall be set
up Immediately after The ratification
of the treaty with Germany"
The Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, when it adopted fifty textual
amendments to the peace treaty by
Senator Fall on Tuesday, sought
to eliminate American representatives
from all these commissions except the
commission on reparations
"Inasmuch as there might be OBJ
lection to providing money at this time
for the execution of any of the pro-
visions OF the treaty when ratified" :"
the President said, "it is not desired
now TO ask attention to that part of
the estimate submitted"
The Presiden, submitted an itemized
account of the expenses of the Amer
lean delegation from December /, 1918,
to June 80, 1919, after which date no
part of his emergency war fund could
be expended, which showed that the
expenses for that period had amount
ed to $686,146.89, exclusive of the
rental OF the Hotel Crillon, the Paris
White House, and telegraph and cable
charges.
The rent of the Hotel Crilon from
December 1 until September 80, to-
gether with charges for damages to
the property, amounted to S350,000
In the account for the period up to
July there appeared an item Of Sl3,-
5S7.19 under the heading "confdential
expenses" This item is believed to
in connection with the conference.
The President did not attempt to
estimate the cost OF telegraph and
cable service employed by the Amer
lean commission. He said simply that
the bills had not yet been rendered
and the amount was not known, but
that the expense would be large.
"NO Explanation Necessary"
In considering the request for addi.
tional appropriations the President
asked that Congress keep in mind that
the American mission was subjected
to unusual expense because of the abb
normal conditions existing in Paris.
He said the personnel of the mission,
which numbered 1900 persons on Jan
uary 81, had been cut down to about
400. Only eighty-eight of these were
civilians, the rest being from the army
and navy.
II assume" said the President, that
no explanation is necessary of the
continued presence of the commission
IN Paris, since every one knows that
although the treaty with Germany is
now before the Senate. treaties with
Austrla' turkey and Bulgaria are yet
to be completed, and many other mat
ters OF actual and potential concern
to this country require careful atten.
ton of the American representatives.. ,
fSior to July l, the Presidents
financial statement showed. sf8.721 AZ
had been paid out Of government funds
Tor private dinners given by Colonel
House and Secretary Lansing and TO,
the support in Paris OF wives of mem.
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