The sun., 1919-08-29
PEACE COMMISSION
HAS COST ,25O,629


now renewing mo request with the
itemlzed statement OF expenditures to
date and estimated for the rest Of the
year
Nothing like an accurate calculation
of the peace making costs Is possible
from the incomplete data yet submitted,
but Congress will take measures to get
precise information as to what is and
what Is not covered in this statement.
Some details are given that will crafty
a long expressed curiosity on various
points, such as the rent of the Hotel
Crillon in Paris, which the delegation
took over The rent Is set down as
SS50,00O from December l last to De-
cember 81 next. thirteen months. This
item includes damages to Its fixtures
and furnishings. estimated at $4,000.
while for wages to the hotel employees
s5S,S45.33 must still be added.
Investigating commissions sent to the
Baltic provinces, Poland. Turkey. the
Balkans. Russia and the Caucasus cost
s105,61O,26. and an item of 3l3.6s7ls
Is for confidential expenses" Pur-
chases of automobiles represented Sl4.-
60296. The President calculates that
still aside from telegraph and cable
service-the entire bin by the end of
this year will be 1896, 1853.
"I assume that no explanation is nee
essary," the President wrote. in request
ing the appropriation. 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 Austria, Turkey
and Bulgaria are yet TO be completed
and many other matters OF actual and
potential concern to this country require
careful attention Of the American repre-
sentatives.
I'm considering these appropriations
and estimates It should be borne in mind
that for a time the personnel Of the
American delegation numbered more
than 1900 persons and on July 81 last
had been reduced to about 400, about
eighty eight of whom were civilians. the
remainder being from the army and
navy. The conference has been held at
q time when conditions in France are
abnormal. prices OF food being more
than 40 per cent. greater than a year
ago railroad transportation having in
creased more than $50 per cent: fuel
not only difficult to obtain but only OBJ
tainable at prices over 400 per cent.
higher than before the war. Although
an army commissary has been utilized
for the most part, the prices paid have
than in prewar times.
Then. too. means OF communication
and the usual channels of information
have been so greatly impeded. as re-
suit OF the war. that not only has It been
necessary to maintain an expensive
courier system but in many instances
| commissions have had to be despatched
for the purpose Of Investigation in order
that the American commission might be
In position to act intelligently and upon
information the accuracy of which had
been positively established.
These unusual conditions have made
the work Of the commission expensive
although ! have no hesitation in saying
that, considering the magnitude OF the
task or the extent TO which the commits
sion was obliged to rely upon its owr
agencies. instead OF upon those available
in normal times. the expenses have beer
and are very modest.
1T is obviously not possible at pres,
ent TO estimate how much longer the
conference may be in session. but as
Stunning that its work shall extend &c
the end Of the calendar year. December
81, 1919, which think may be regarded
as the maximum, the sum of S82b,00(
will be required for its expenses"