The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-08-06
WILSON IN
EFFORT TO
MEDIATE
PRESIDENT OFFERS GOOD OF.
FlCES OF UNITED STATES TO
STOP SUICIDAL WAR IN EUROPE
HE ADDRESSES ALL GOVERN
MENTS INVOLVED.


Washington, Aug. 5.-President
Wilson today formally offered the
services OF the United States gov
ernment to the warning nations of
Europe should they desire to discuss
terms of peace. He rendered what
technically is phrased as good of
fices", which if accepted in principle
would be followed by a conference of
representatives of the powers of Eu-
rope in which the United States
would play the role of mediator.
Under The Hague convention, TO
which all European nations except
SeTyia sgnatories, a neutral nation
is urged in time of international con
flict to tender her good offices 20
contending powers. Acting under the
terms of The Hague convention, the
president cabled Emperor William of
Germany, Emperor Nicholas of Rus
sia, Emperor Franz Joseph of AUS
tria. King George of Great Britain,
and President Poincare of France ~
follows:
'As official head of one of the
powers signatory to The Hague con
vention, feel it to be my privilege
and my duty under article three of
that convention to say to You In a
spirit of most earnest friendship that
| should welcome an opportunity 10
act in the interest of European peace,
either now or any other time that
might be thought more suitable as an
occasion to serve you and all CON
cerned in a way that would afford
me lasting cause for gratitude and
happiness.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON"
Late today Secretary Bryan sum
moned ali European diplomats in the
city and gave them a copy of the
telegram in the hope that they
would transmit it to their govern
ments and urge acceptance of the
tender.
The Austrian ambassador, repre-
sentative of the British, Russian,
German and French embassies. and
Belgian legation called at the de-
partment.
Mr.. Bryan delivered the message 10
representatives of the legation of the
Netherlands and other countries not
directly involved as a matter OF in
formation to their foreign effoces.
Some of the diplomats tod newspa-
per men they believed the situation
had gone too far to be halted by me
diation. The Austrian ambassador
thought, however, a sudden turn in
the war might influence an accept
ance.
The offer of the United States was
made after many days of careful con
sideration by the president and cabi-
net. From the first the idea has been
in the minds of the administration
officials, but as long as European ma
situation Mr.. Wilson thought it was
the traditional duty of the American
government not to interfere.
When virtually ali Europe suddenly
became involved and the United
States stood forth as the solitary
power of absolute neutrality, the
president acted with dispatch. He
wrote the brief note, sent it to Sec
retary Bryan, who promptly approved
and late last night the messages were
sent to Europe.
From the character of inquiries
made by American diplomats of their
own initiative, the prospect for an
acceptance by some Of the European
nations were considered bright. Great
Britain and her allies, it is believed,
will accept, but no assurance has
come from Germany. Should the em-
reror agree, it is thought the entire
situation would be settled by pacific
means and a great war averted. The
central theme for mediation which is
to suspend hostilities without caus-
ing military preparations and discuss
peace in conciliatory spirit. is EN-
bodied in twenty peace treaties draft
ed by Secretary Bryan, which were
reported favorably by the senate COM
mittee on foreign relations today, Ac-