Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02
AMERICAN DIPLOMATS
RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS
President Wilson Disinclined to Take
Steps Looking Toward
Mediation.
HOLDS MANY CONFERENCES
With Secretary Bryan He Studies
Mass Of Dispatches-P1ans Laid to
Guard Financial Situation
in This Country.

1He governments or Austro- Hungary,
Germany. Great Britain and France last
night asked the government Of the Unit
ed States to take charge of their en-
bassies, legations and consuIates
throughout the theater of hostilities be-
lieved to have been established by Ger
many's formal declaration Of war against
Russia.
The announcement was made in Wash
ington that the United States will act for
the great powers involved. and that
American ambassadors and ministers
abroad had been instructed accordingly.
The request made Of the United States
government was that it should act 'in
case OF emergency," but in Washington
last night there was little doubt that the
emergency has already arisen, although
because OF the strict military censor
ship on dispatches from Europe the de-
tails Of these emergencies did not reach
Washington.
,- Day Of Conferences.
This first participation Of the United
States government in the international
situation came about after a day In
which President Wilson. Mr. Bryan, the
|
Secretary Of the Treasury: other cabinet
officers. and the leaders Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives, were In
frequent conference under the heavy
responsibility of taking various steps to
safeguard the interests of the United
States within its own borders as a con-
sequence Of the gigantic struggle now
going on in Europe.
As a result of these conferences, the
nf faf e.
cancel his engagement to go away for
weeks vacation, and President Wilson
adopted the unusual course Of giving up
much OF Saturday to the public busi-
ness.
Among the principal DEVELOPMENTS of
the day In Washington thus resulting
were:
President Wilson and leaders In Com
gress agreed upon an amendment to the
Panama canal act. which probably will
be passed by Congress tomorrow, to save
transatlantic shipping from paralysis.
and permit foreign ships to come in un-
DER American nag registry at once. 40
that wheat and other commodities NAV
be transported to Europe
Emergency Currency Planned.
An agreement was reached that tho
House OF Representatives will take
up tomorrow the bill already passed
oy tne' Senate to amend the
Aidrich Vreeland act so an 10
make available in the United States at
once SoooUOOO0 in emergency currency,
IL needed, to tide American banks and
business men over the period in which
extraordinary attacks upon their re-
sources may be made as a consequence of
the international. situation
The problem developed how to supply
American embassies. legations and con-
sulates abroad with funds at this time.
particularly gold. In view Of the inter-
ruption to ocean traffic, the magnitude of
creased by calls United States consulates
may make on the American government
In behalf of stranded Americans in
Europe. The President and the Secretary
this subject.
Get Mass Of Dispatches.
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan
studied a mass of dispatches from
American embassies, legations and con-
sulates in Europe. While no formal ten
der of good offices has been made to any
power, American diplomats abroad are
keeping the State Department closely ad-
vised.
From an authoritative source 1t was
learned late tonight that President Will
son was strongly disnclined to take any
steps toward mediation In Europe and.
in line with the traditional policy of the
United States. would pursue a course of
absolute non-interference.
|. AS American diplomats abroad have
been active on their own initiative,
sounding out the various governments
about peace measures. cautionary tele-
grams were sent all legations and en-
bassies requesting that no steps Of i'm
portance in this direction be taken with
out previous consultation with the Wash
ington government
For the present the attitude Of the
United States will be that Of neutral OBJ
server. and unless 1t appears that the
contending powers would accept a ten
der of good offices and mediation no form
al effort will be made by the United
States toward a Pacific settlement.
Ambassador Active.
Ambassadors Page at London, Penfield
at Vienna, Herrick at Paris and Gerard
| at Berlin were particularly active during
the day comforting with officials OF the
various foreign Offices. They were at work
in the interest of peace, and In general
| thus far have been acting on their own
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