The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-02
.EUROPE'S WAR SHADOW
COVERS WASHINGTON
Wilson and Heads OF Departments
Keeping in Close Touch With
Situation on Continent.
DIPLOMATS ABROAD ARE BUSY
il Opportunity Presents Itself, United
States Will Offer It's Services in
Effort to Restore Peace-Preparing
for Emergencies.

Washington. August War devcI-
opments in Europe overshadowed all
else to-day and tonight In official
Washington. Steps to prevent a finau.
cinl stringency in this country as 2
result of Europc's sudden need 70,
gold we're followed by Il series of pre-.
( eaulieMary measures dcsic ned to pro.
I tect Amerieans ;.md their interests
abroad and at home
President Wilson and Secretary
BRYAN studied mass of dispatches
fron American efn baasies legations
and consulatcs IN Europe While no
formal tender OF good Offices had been
made To any power. American diplomats
abroad are keeping the State Depart
mont closely advised, so that IL OBJ
portunitv presents the United states
influence for = settlement Of the war
problems by pacific means will he ac-
lively cNcytcd.
AMBASSADORS ACTIVE
IN BEHALF OF PEACE
Ambassadors Page, AT Condor: Pen
iiclG at Vienna Hcrrick. at Paris. and
Gerard, at Berlin. were particularly
active during tho day comforting with
officials of The various foreign Offices.
They are Il; work in the interest of
peace. thus far acting on their own
initiative. In dispatches to the state
Department they made various sue
gcstions, but until the situation dcyel-
ops further no decisive step in diplo-
macy VIII be taken by Washington
The Washington government In
Structcd all its diplomatic represents
tives abroad 10 do anything in their
powcr with propriety to avert the con
dict.
Germany, France. Great Britain and
practically all the other governments
f.t hi. 49,.
in the struggle have asked the UnifeA
States 10 care for their diplomatic In
terests in those countries with which
they may be compelled 10 sever rela
tions. The United States has accepted
every requirement. The United states
, government by acting as the sole chan
mel OF communication between the pow
crs, may find an opportunity to assist
| In the settlement of the conflict by
diplomacy.
President Wilson has mot lost hope
that general conflict can be averted.
Some oAicial dispatches suggested that
the military measures taken by some
Of the powers were precautionary and
not definitely indicative of an inten-
ton actually to engage i'm hostilities.
GRAVITY OF SITUATION
EVERYWHERE ADMITTED
The gravity OF the situation was ad-
mitted in all the kilograms.
News that Germany had declared
war on Russia came unoflcially while
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan
were in conference. Later Mr.. Bryan
hurried TO .<tic State Department, and
sent several long cablcgrams abroad.
To prevent paralysis In commerce,
President Wilson and congressional
leaders to-day agreed OH legislation
which would permit foreign ships to
come under American registry In case
of a general war.
No proclama ton Of neutrality will
be issued by the United States until
the situation develops more clearly.
Government officials generally were
busy preparing for emergencies Secre-
tary Bryan postponed his vacation trip
10 Asheville, y. c. Postma ster- en-
eral Burleson announced that thus far
there had been no interruption or de-
lay To mail service from the United
States. Although German steamers
sailing have been Cancelled. American
mail for Europe has been sent by other
lines. Postmasters have been nQtifiud
not to sell international postal money
orders for .upusualI1. syr,S