Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-10-26 | Page 1 | House to Present Wilson's War Aims

Personal Representative of the President and AdmimI W. S. Benson Arrive in France. Supreme W ar Council at Versailles May Frame the Draft of Proposed Armistice. WASHINGTON", Oct. 23. Arrival in France of Colonel E. M. House, President Wilson's personal representative, and Admiral Ad-miral Benson, the highest ranking officer in the American navy, has cleared the way for the beginning of such deliberations delibera-tions by the supreme war council at Versailles Ver-sailles as may be necessary to frame the draft of an armistice to be submitted to Germany. The premiers of the allied countries, who- make up the political elements ele-ments of the council, can be assembled at short notice, but it Is presumed their presence will not be necessary until the inili tary and naval members Ijavo completed com-pleted their work. It was aaid today in official quarters that Colonel House would not be a member mem-ber of the council, at least for the present; that he simply is the eyes and ears of tho president in Europe, charged with ascertaining the exact state of public and private feeling in regard to all matters connected with the war. Possessed of full knowledge of this nature, it is believed be-lieved the president will be even better prepared than heretofore to deal with1 every phase of the complex problems that will arise as soon as negotiations for an armistice and peace are fully under way. MAY TAKE PLACE AT COUNCIL TABLE. Individual views of Lho entente powers are certain to develop as the result of the action of President Wilson in boldly stating the war aims of tho United States; in fact, it is understood that the president desires to have these disclosed at the earliest possible moment so that a united front on these questions might be presented to the common enemy by prior agreement among the countries fighting the central powers. Colonel House will be in a position to learn these separate views and perhaps to reconcile apparently conflicting interests and desires de-sires through personal discussions. Later, Colonel House may take a place at the council table if President Wilson desires. The president has a vote in the council in the disposition of political matters mat-ters and it is regarded as possible that he may delegate this power to Colonel House. It lias been suggested, however, that the use of the term, "vote," in connection con-nection with the proceedings of the council coun-cil is misleading. What Is mearft is rather a Valce in the proceedings, for there is to be no voting in the ordinary sense; no question of majorities or minorities. minori-ties. The members arc charged to broach freely for discussion any subjects they please, and if any line of action is deemed necessary' each representative will notify his own government of the general sense of thc council, and it will be for the home governments to give the necessary instructions for any change in policy. BENSON RANKING OFFICER OF NAVY. Admiral Benson's status differs from that of Colonel House, in that he presents himself at Versailles in his capacity as the ranking officer of the American navy, and consequently probably will be welcomed wel-comed as an expert and authority by the technical members of the council. No one knows the extent or the powers with which he has been-clothed by the president presi-dent or Secretary Daniels, but it Is assumed as-sumed he can give any orders necessary to carry o'it the naval phases of any armistice that is agreed upon, so far as it may be necessary to affect the American naval forces in European waters. wa-ters. Thc army will be represented by General Tasker H. Bliss. The official copies of President Wil- (Continued oij. Page Nice.) HOUSE 10 PRESENT WILSON'S WHO AIMS (Continued from Page One.) son's latest response to the German notes, together with the correspondence incident thereto, making in all eleven separate communications, were not delivered by cable to the entente governments until today. Of course, London, Paris and Rome already were in possession of tho unofficial text of the notes as received through the press by radio, but these were not sufficient upon which to base official action.