The Washington herald., 1914-10-25
Miss Janet Richards Blames
War on Failure Of First
Hague Conference to Pre-
vent Catastrophe by Adopt
ing Russia's ManifestOr
Calling for Gradual Dis
armament of All Powers.

The keen interest felt in the great war
now convulsing Europe was strikingly
manifested last Monday morning by the
large and distinguished audience Of more
than 700 representative residents Of
Washington, both men and women, who
assembled in the large auditorium at
Woodward & Lothrop's TO hear Miss
Janet Richards, the well-known lecturer
on Public Questions, talk for almost
two hours on her impressions and ex-
periences during four weeks detention
in the European war zone.
Miss Richards prefaced a story of her
own experiences with a concise and lucid
account Of the historic sequences which
led up TO the greatest OF worlds catas-
trophies, presenting the chief links in the
chain of international developments
among the great nations involved.
She showed how the assassination Of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the de-
mands made upon Servia had constituted
the final breaking point Of the strained
relations between the various European
countries and was the direct reason for
the European war. AS to which nation
was primarily TO blame for the awful
conflict now raging and affecting the
whole world, Miss Richards was careful
not to express her opinion. She. doubt
less, has her own ideas and feelings on
the subject, but one Of the strongest
trality she preserved in accordance with
the well-known desire OF the President.
Urged to BE Neutral.
a brief personal interview which she has
had the honor of having with the Presi-
dent since her return from Europe (an
interview, she added, sought, OF course,
by herself and not by the PresidenO.
the Chief Executive had himself ad-
monished her to strive to preserve strict
neutrality in her talks touching on the
war
The fund Of accurate historic informa-
tion possessed by Miss Richards and the
easy narrative manner in which she pre-
sents her facts never hesitating for the
right word, serves to hold the sustained
interest OF her audience. Although the
subject was a very serious one, Miss
Richards interspersed the talk with quick,
bright and humorous observations TO re-
lieve the tension felt by the audience in
the discussion of so tragic a theme.
Although the speaker stated at the out
set that this, the first lecture of the
course. would be merely an outline
talk" she gave a clear and Comprehen-
sive revi=w of the more important con-
ditions antecedent TO the outbreak Of
hostilities. resulting from what she called
the double curse of militarism and rival
world now realizes were doomed sooner
or later to cUIminate in the great Euro
pean war"
While it is impossible to fully report
so fluent and rapid a speaker as Miss
Richards. some parts OF her address
which was followed with closest atten-
tiCn throughout and frequently interrupt
ed with applause. were as follows:
Review of Developments.
As those Of you who have attended
these talks fer A number OF years will
recall il is our usual custom to begin
the winters course. with a general re-
view Of the most interesting and ifpor-
tant developments in the worlds work
for the preceding six months, and we
have always rejoiced together, first, that
It has been possible each year to repeat
the glad tidings that the peace sentiment
was growing; that in spite Of the men
ace of 'militarism,' the principle of arbi-
tration, as the rational method of settling
international disputes, was steadily gain
ing ground. and that the world at large
was still at peace.
To-day this dream Of peace and univer-
sal brotherhood, based upon good will
toward men, seems to be shattered,
and the world stands aghast at the
frightful conflict now raging between
all but one of the great nations of
Europe-a conflict so unbelievable, so
wicked and indefensible, so absolutely
unnecessary-that We shrink appalled,
from the daily reports of the combat, and
with sinking hearts and an ever-increas-
ing sense of horror can only exclaim and
reiterate, 'Monstrous! Unbelievable!
Chastity"
But who Ia to BIameP
But who is to blame? We ask who