MUTUAL FRANCO-AMERICAN TRIBUTES

373 both indicative of the extremely businesslike manner of the whole conference. They were as follows:

EDWARD MANDELL HOUSE, chairman of the American mission: M. Clemenceau, in welcoming the delegates to this conference, declared that we had met to work. His words were prophetic. There have been co-ordination and unity of purpose which promise great results for the future. It is my deep conviction that by this unity and concentrated effort we shall be able to arrive at the goal which we have set out to reach.

In behalf of my colleagues I want to avail myself of this occasion to thank the officials of the French Government, and through them the French people, for the warm welcome and great consideration they have shown us. In coming to France we felt that we were coming to the house of our friends. Ever since our Government was founded there has been a bond of interest and sympathy between us-a sympathy which this war had fanned into passionate admiration. The history of France is the history of courage and sacrifice. Therefore the great deeds which have illuminated the last three years have come as no surprise to us of America. We knew that when called upon France would rise to splendid achievement and would add luster to her name. America salutes France and her heroic sons, and feels honored to fight by the side of so gallant a comrade.

GEORGES CLEMENCEAU, premier of France, president of the Interallied Conference: As it is my duty to declare this conference closed, allow me to add a few words to those you have just heard. I came here fully intending to remain silent, so as to leave you under the spell of the impressive words which have just been uttered by my eminent friend, Mr. House, who so worthily represents American eloquence. As I listened to him I could not help thinking that, if there be a lesson to be learned from that historical friendship which to-day again unites in the memory of a glorious past the French and American nations, there is no less instruction in the total abolition of ancient feuds.

In the past we were the friends of America and the enemies of Great Britain. French and British fought bravely and loyally against each other, both on land and sea. The two peoples are to-day united in community of action and friendship. It is no longer a question of great and little nations. All peoples fighting for the same ideal of justice and liberty are great, and they will succeed in attaining that ideal by dint of sacrifices soon to be magnificently recompensed.

If I am to believe the newspapers, a guttural voice has made itself heard from the other side of the trenches mocking at this conference. This is no jesting matter. Our enemies, who recognize nothing but brute force, cannot understand us. We are all fighting at the dictates of the conscience of humanity, and wish simply the realization of right, justice and liberty. And we are met together to see that the right we have always sought shall become a reality.

Even if on the other side of the Rhine there is no desire to understand, the world expects our victory and will get it. All the peoples here represented are assisting each other for the success of the greatest of causes. Let us labor to win by our strength the right to peace.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

The Department of State published a review of the report filed with it by Mr. House as head of the special American war mission on January 2, 1918. The report, said the Department of State, showed that the mission "succeeded in its purpose of reaching a definite working plan for the prosecution of the war through co-operation of the Governments represented at the conferences held in Paris in the various fields of activity and through marshaling the resources of the nations at war with the Central Powers and co-ordinating their uses under a common authority, thus avoiding the waste and uncertainties that arise from independent action."

The summary of the report is here quoted as the authentic statement of the work done by the Interallied Conference and the second session of the Supreme War Council, November 29-December 3, 1917:

The results of the conferences, as shown in the report, are most gratifying to this Government, first because they indicate that the conferees were inspired by the desire to be mutually helpful, and second because the agreements which were reached, when in full operation, will greatly increase the effectiveness of the efforts now being put forth by the United States and the Allies in the conflict against Germany and Austria-Hungary.

A summary of the results accomplished at their conferences and the recommendations made by the American mission will indicate the value

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of the work done and the practical methods which were considered by the conferences and which are recommended in the report. The summary is as follows:

I. DIPLOMATIC

(1) Full and frank discussion between Colonel House as special representative of the Government of the United States and the heads of the British, French and Italian Governments with regard to the war policy of the United States and her associates in the war.

(2) Participation by the members of the mission in a meeting of the British War Cabinet, at which conference a general and useful discussion was had concerning the needs of the Allies and the extent of the assistance to be expected from the United States.

(3) Participation by the United States in an Interallied War Conference, held in Paris on November 29. At this conference all preliminary speeches were dispensed with and within half an hour after the conference had been called to order by M. Clemenceau it had split into committees for work.

(4) Participation by the United States in a meeting of the Supreme War Council held at Versailles, December 1. Representatives of England, France, Italy and the United States there met as a first step toward securing unity of control of the armies on the western front. This meeting, the first of its kind, assures for the future unity of support on the part of the United States and the Allies.

(5) First steps taken in the establishment of a more perfect liaison between the commanding generals of the United States and the Allies.

II. NAVAL

(1) The formation of an Interallied Naval Council to co-ordinate the operation of the naval forces of the United States and her associates in the war, so that these forces may in the future be operated as one in the prosecution of the war on the sea and in conjunction with the land forces.

(2) An agreement between the British Admiralty and the Navy Department putting into effect certain plans relating to the prosecution of the naval war against the submarines.

(3) The formation of a definite plan for the more active utilization of American naval forces in conjunction with those of nations engaged in the war against the Central Powers.

(4) Agreement with the British Admiralty making it possible for American naval officers to keep fully informed of the operations and policy of the British Admiralty, so that perfect co-operation between the Navy Department and that body is assured.

(5) Reorganization of American naval forces at French ports.

(6) The securing of a full and detailed picture of the naval problem in European waters.

(1) After conferences extending over approximately 30 days with the chiefs of staff, members of the general staffs and commanders-in-chief of the allied armies on the western front, as well as with the highest civil officials of the respective Governments, the extent of the military effort to be aimed at by the United States was clearly determined.

(2) With this determination in mind negotiations were carried on looking to the pooling of resources for the mutual advantage of all of the countries engaged in the war against Germany. The contribution of the United States to this pooling arrangement was agreed upon. The contributions, likewise, of the countries associated with the United States were determined. This pooling arrangement guaranteed that full equipment of every kind would be available to all American troops sent to Europe during the year 1918.

(3) Unqualified support to the resolution adopted by the Interallied Conferences looking to the creation of an Allied Advisory Board charged with the duty of advising the shipping authorities of each nation concerning the allocation of tonnage so as to permit the American military effort to be realized.

(4) Full survey made of the problem of debarkation in Europe of American military forces and transportation of such forces and supplies to the bases of military operations.

(5) Arrangements made for fullest co-operation between the United States, Great Britain and France in the production of military instruments and supplies of all kinds.

(6) Plans made for the proper organization under naval and military control of ports of debarkation of troops and discharge of cargoes, looking to the most economical utilization of tonnage.

(7) Participation in military deliberations of the Supreme War Council as a step toward efficient and centralized unity of control of military operations.

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IV. FINANCE

(1) Full detailed conferences with the financial representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Rumania and Russia, for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of the financial effort necessary on the part of the United States in order properly to co-operate with these Governments in making financial arrangements for the prosecution of the war against the Central Powers.

(2) Conferences with the representatives of the above mentioned countries for the purpose of perfecting the organization of an interallied council, which is a priority board whose duty it should be to consider the relative importance and urgency of the financial demands to be made by the concerted effort of the countries waging war against the Central Powers.

(Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Crosby, the financial member of the mission, remained in Europe to act as president of the interallied council.)

(3) Arrangements begun for the proper financing of purchases by the countries at war with Germany of supplies from neutral countries. (4) Participation in the financial discussions of the Interallied Conference.

V. SHIPPING

(1) Full and detailed reports were secured showing total loss of tonnage due to war risks and marine risks from August 1, 1914, to September 30, 1917.

(2) The estimated output of new tonnage by the Allies during the year 1918 was ascertained.

(3) The proper employment of existing tonnage so that the maximum utilization of such tonnage could be effected, was provided for in a resolution adopted by the Interallied Conference:

"The Allies, considering that the means of maritime transport at their disposal as well as the provisions which they dispose of should be utilized in common for the pursuit of the war, have decided to create an interallied organization for the purpose of co-ordinating their action to this effect and of establishing a common program constantly kept up to date, enabling them by the maximum utilization of their resources to restrict their importations with a view of liberating the greatest amount of tonnage possible for the transportation of American troops."