Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-20
MORE DELEGATES
MAY Be NAMED
Precarious Health of Col.
House Menaces Strength of
American Representation.
TALK OF TAFT AND ROOT

With new ramifcations arising al
most daily in connection with peace
problems which promise to keep the
eonferees in session for many months,
the possibility has arisen that Presi.
dent Wilson may appoint another
member of the. American delegation.
1t might be especially desirable to
relations should any domestic busi-
ness. such as an extra session of
Congress, arise upon the Presidents
return here the latter part of this
month.
Though President Wilson, in the
public eye, has been the dominant
figure in Americas representation at
the conference so far. Col. E.. NJ
House without doubt is playing a
major role in advising the President
Indeed, in regard to technical de-
tails of many issues it is likely that
thu President depends largely upon
Col. House, who has been studying
closely for nearly year all phases
of peace settlements in which the
United States might be even remotely
concerned.
Col. House Not Well.
But Col. Houses health has not been
good since he went abroad. He re-
covered from one attack of the inf1u-
enza. only to contract another bad
cold which even now is interfering
with his full performance of his task
Should the President be absent from
the conference and Col. House be in
capacitated tremendous burden
would fall upon the shoulders of the
remaining three United States repre-
sentatives, Secretary Of State Lansing,
Henry White and Gen. Tasker H.
Bliss
Though Mr.. White has broad
knowledge of diplomatic affairs he
has had no direct connection with ac-
tivitieS, in connection with the present
war. Gen. Bliss has a far broader
view of world politics than a mill
'tary man might be supposed to pos
sess. But on many questions Secre
tary Lansing, in such a situation as
that indicated, would be the only
member of the American delegation
remaining who could speak with au-
thority.
Therefore. though there has been no
official intimation that President Will
son might follow such d course, con-
more additional American delegates
may be appointed before the final
stages of the treaty making are
reached.
Taft and Root Mentioned.
In republican circles there is a gen.
eral belief that William Howard Taft,
because of his espousal of a league
of nations, and Elihu Root, because of
his diplomatic prestige. combined with
his recent personal knowledge of
Russian affairs, gained while he was
a member of the Presidents commits
sion to Russia, might be good timber
for future appointments.
In view of the Presidents failure
to name either of them in the first
place it is regarded by some as un-
likely that they would be consider
ed in any supplemental appointments.
Others believe that because the posi-
ton of the United States has been
even though they be republicans,
might be appointed with reasonable
expectation that they would carry
out the essential points of the Presi-
dents program.
Withdrawal of one or more mem
bers of the American commission
would not affect the voting strength
of this nation, under the arrangement
by which each nation votes as a
unit Irrespective of the number of it's
delegates.
On the other hand the provision for
panel system, by which changes
may be made in the personnel of dele
cations admitted to the conference.
would seem to point a way for ap-
pointment of additional delegates by
any nation which desired to do so.
Under this system experts like Her
bert Hoover. Bernard NJ. Baruch or
Edward n. Hurley might be brought
into the conference if food. raw ma
terials or shipping were being con-
sidered All three of these men now
are abroad and their advice is avail
able, of course. to the American dele
gates even though they are not mem
bers of the delegation.