Evening star., 1919-09-20
BRITISH KEEP SEA!
IN PEACE COUNCIL
Story of Practical Withdraw
al Discounted by Sir Eyre
CrcWe's Appointment.
BY HENRY J. SMITH.
BY Cable TO The star and Chicago
Daily News, Copyright. 1919.

PARIS. September 17.-Some light
may now be thrown on discussions of
great moment in the supreme council
in the last few days involving the future
of the peace conference. 1t will be re-
called that Prime Minister Lloyd George
hastened here from Deauville and ar
rived on Friday On his heels came Col.
f. NJ House. concerning which unoh-
trusive individual speculation ran wild.
II was plain that some turn in atYairs
sraver than routine arguments over
half finished treaties had taken place.
The newspapers were allowed to believe
that Mr. Lloyd George came to discuss
Syria. while Col House sat smiling in
his crimson chair at the Hotel de Grill
Ion. fencing expertly with the cor
respondents.
Then came the departure OF Foreign
Minister Baifour for England. and it
was reported that no one would fill his
place. The question Immediately arose.
rs Britain through with the confer
enceo' As the matter now ST ards Britain
is not through. She has named min
lister plenipotentiary Sir Eyre Grove,
who sat in the council more as an am
bassador than as a delegate. who is the
sole substitute for the famous British
representation and must receive in
structions from London before acting.
LLOYD georges proposal.
What Premier Lloyd George actually
proposed, according to the best informal
tion, was an alteration in the pro-
cedure of the supreme council so as
to make it resemble the old council OF
four in speed and secrecy. He wished
to eliminate the cumbersome, though
impressive army supernumeraries and
secretaries. This failing, it is said
that he was willing even to see one
N a mt an21yiSinD
this suggestion figured that Japan
might be willing to withdraw since
she has no immediate interest in the
many European problems next on the
program.
However. any such suggestion has
been unthankfully received by the
Japanese. who point out that though
they have no territorial concern in
questions like that of Fiume, Thrace
and the Hungarian tangles, still such
matters as prisoners, indemnlties or
dealings with the far east might arise
al any time. They hold that the peace
problems and not merely to conclude
peace with the central powers Thus
Japan's delegate, NJ. Matsui, will re-
main to the end.
Mr.. Lloyd George had Japan's with
drawaI in mind: indeed. he seemed
more inclined to abate Britain's par
ticipation. This is what, it is believed.
came" to COL House 3 ears IN EHSl ldHu
and sent him to exert his influence
against the breakup of the conference.
Col. House an Absentee.
Col. House has assumed no definite
status and does not attend the council
sessions. This bears out the theory that
he is here mainly to try to keep matters
moving until the Bulgarian and Hunga-
rian treaties are finished. The American
delegates are united in the idea OF
thoroughness even at the expense of
speed.
I'VE have one dominating idea" said
one of them. land that is to make all
arrangements possible to prevent future
wars Until that is accomplished We
shall not consider the work finfared."
Hence the Americans are opposed to
all suggestions that the conference lie
allowed to dwindle or to cease func-
tioning. tndersecretary Frank j..
Polk joined Premier Clemenceau in
arguing MIR. Lloyd George into keeping
a working representative in Paris.
Lloyd George has returned to England.
taking along Viscount Miner and Bonar
Law. without having produced a visible
result toward changing the council in
the future except a promise of recess
when nothing is left to carve but Tur-