The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-17

council a digest Of the several pans
for colonial administration was3EEen
and some historical data on the sdbject
were very instructive. But as for
any propaganda or coloring of the news,
the American delegation does practical
ly nothing Of that sort. And the crtti-
cism one most hears is that the CORE
tion taken by the American delegates
in the conferences except as they hear
II through British; French or Italian
sources, Col. House has endeavored to
be helpful in this respect. but he, as
we'll as the other principals in the mis-.
sion, would be doing nothing else II
they received all the correspondents ac-
credited to the peace mission.
George Creel hasn't appeared in the
situation at all. The Paris office Of the
committee on public information estab-
lished during the war has been useful
Walter Rogers and Herman Suter have
been exceedingly helpful in getting wire
less communication for the correspond
ents. Also the ether offices Of the com
mittee in New York, as well as In Eu-
ropean capitals, have been gathering
extracts from the press, unfavorable as
well as favorable, and t~elegraphlng
them to the American mission, The
value Of this can not be overestimated,
as few European newspapers print edi-
torial press comment at IN length,
and it would take weeks 10 gather the
opinion Of the newspapers OF all shades
OF politics, whereas the American mis-
sion has a comprehensive summary by
telegraph and cable and wireless every
morning. George Creel's organization
for this purpose Is very good. n he
himself gave correspondents TO under
stand that the object OF his trip to Eu-
rope was merely to liquidate some OF
these European bureaus and strengthen
others for the assistance Of the Amert-
can mission. So he promptly departed
that he wouldn't be the presidents
secretary, and took a "trip TO Italy,
Switzerland and into CxechoASloVakta,
In which last place he made stump
speeches, being hailed as the repre-
sentative Of President Wilson and nat
urally acclaimed.
Refused to Talk.
When Mr.. Creel returned 10 Paris
he wouldn't say whether he had re-
signed or not. He VAS occupied with
the cutting down o. the European
branches Of the committee on pubic
information, He didn't come back with
President Wilson on the George Wash
ington, and during the last 10 days OF
the presidents stay in Paris MIR, Creel
was not observed to be in as intimate
contact as when he first arrived In
Europe. Many are inc StOtleS tOlu OIL
an alleged es%trangement between the
president and Mr.. Creel Certainly Mr..
Wilson was too busy to see many OF
his friends. But the outstanding fact
remains that the agitation in the Unit
ed States during the fore part Of De-
cember had the effect Of preventing
Mr.. Wilson from intrusting the han
ding OF publicity at the peace confer
ence 10 George Greet. No newspaper
man ever wanted the job of inter
medlary. for news gatherers don't. as
a rule, believe in indirect methods As
a consequence, the American mission
provided no substitute,
What most of the correspondents
wanted was not "a newspaper man or a
magazine writer or anybody else to
color the news for them or tell them
what TO write. but a principal, a man
OF the standing. for example, Of Lord
Robert Cecil, Of the British delega-
ton, who would participate in the con-
ferences and know what was going on
and would be accessible to the press
at all times-a sort OF minister for the
press or delegate charged simply with
looking after the newspaper men who
felt that at 5000 miles distance they