Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-21

equipping them they had gotten no good
out of them whatever, and that the
American troops had not been OF any
service to the British. That at one time,
when some American troops were about
to 60 into action with the British, per-
emptory orders had been issued that
they should not go into action, as they
were not adequately trained.
Surprised by Attitude.
"From this he went on 70 say that he
was earnestly DESTROYS for opportunity
of the American and British soldiers TO
fraternize. He felt that large issues to
the future peace of the world depended
upon the American and British peo--
pies understanding one another. ana
that much the best hope OF such an I'M
Outstanding grew out OF intermingllng
our soldiers so they could learn to know
one another, but that it seemed to him
that there was some influence at Work
to monopolize American soldiers for the
assistance of the French and to keep
them from the association OF the Brlt-
iSh.
IT replied that I was profoundly sur
prised at the feeling he expressed, since
Lord Reading and I had quite definitely
understood in Washington, and our un-
Outstanding had been set up in a
memorandum, of which copy had been
sent to him, that the American troops
brought over by the British were eXpe-
dited because of the lack Of reserves by
the British and French, which would be
made up by August l.
THAT 1 had stated to Lord Reading
and put into the memorandum that
these American troops assigned for
training with the British were to be
subject to your call at any time at your
discretion and that their training and
use was constantly to be such as you di-
rected. I had therefore no thought
that there could be any ground for mis-
understanding your right to take the
American troops at any time you want
ed them.
IT pointed out that the President and
I had repeatedly, both verbally and in
writing, insisted that the American
Army as such was the thing we were
trying to create. That we had no in
tention of feeding our soldiers into the
French or British army, and intended
20 have an American Army in exactly
the same sense that Great Britain had
British army and France . French
army.
THAT we all recognized the right of
Marshal Foch to send divisions of Amer
leans or French or British from one
part Of the line to another for particu-
reserve which would have troops of all
three nations for use as reserves, bu<
with that exception American troops In
France were as completely under your
control as British troops in France were
under the control Of Sir Douglas Haig.
Gave No Assurances.
1.-THE conversation left on my mind a
very strong feeling that Lloyd George
frankly wants Americans to remain
with the British, both as a stimulus and
for the determination which he de-
scribes, and that he is very suspicious
that the French are desiring to mo-
nopolize the Americans and so come out
Of the war as our principal friends with
out there having been real opportunity
for cooperation and understanding be-
tween the British and Americans.
Il, Of course, gave him no assurances
whatever, and when he asked me what
expectations thought he ought to have
about the use of American troops I re-
piled shortly that I thought he ought to
expect the American Army as such to
exist in the same sense as the British
Army, and to be used there as a whole
or by the detachment of divisions here
and there wherever the largest good
could be accomplished for the cause in
the judgment of the commander In
chief"
The Secretary's letter impressed me,
as did almost every communication re-
ceived from him, with his earnest pur-
pose to do everything possible for our
success. His desire to aid in the solu-
ton of the multitude Of problems which
confronted me, his clear comprt hension
Of their magnitude, his sympathy, his
infinite tact and understanding, were