Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-18
EMPHAS|zESPLEA
FOR NEUTRALITY
President Wilson Resents Dis
regard of His Advice to
American Citizens.
REFUSES AN AUDIENCE
TO PROMINENT EDITOR
Believes His Efforts to Procure Peace
in Europe Should Have
United Support.

voked over incidents tending to en-
barrass his efforts for mediation of
the European war and disregard of
mis- plea for neutrality by American
citizens. Today he refused to give an
audience to Horace L. Brand, editor of
the Chicago Staats-Zeitung and one of
the prominent German-Amsricans in
the United States, who wished to pre-
sent petition signed by thousands
of German Americans In the north
west protesting against the charges
of the Belgians that the Germans were
brutal and barbaric in their course
Through Belgium.
MIR. Brant arrived in Washington in
great hurry yesterday and. immedl-
ateiy enlisted the support of Senator
Lewis Of Illinois to bring about his
reception by the President. The Presi-
dent today took the ground that if
the signers Of the petition to the
President are German-Americanst they
are presumably American citizens. liv-
ing and voting in this country. and
ought to be neutral in the contest.
The President believes that the case
comes within his recent appeal to mis-
'fellow-countrymen" to AID the cause
OF America by remaining neutral, and
ny Americans cannot possibly conduce
to neutrality and will tend TO irritate
and bring about feeling in this coun-
try that ought not to exist
VIII Write Personal Letter.
It is the intention Of the President to
write a letter to Brand, setting forth
his position in the matter. It Ia I'M
derstood he will indicate that he has
refused to see Austrian Americans and
other hyphenated American citizens
whose ancestry has given them bias
in the existing quarrel, and that he
proposes to stand by his position that
Americans, for the honor and good of
the country, should maintain a strictly
neutral position. He will indicate that
If a delegation of German citizens, di-
rectly from Germany. wished to see
him about the visit and claims of the
Belgians they would be cordially re-
ceived.
In the last week important messages
concerning the initial moves of the
President to bring about mediation
newspapers. before the President him.
self became aware of the contents OF
these messages, and, combined with
conjectures, it il feared, have material
ly aided In diminishing the chances for
mediation.
Believed to Lessen Chances.
The President feels. it is said. that IL
every move that is attempted is made
public before 1t eliminates one way or
other the chances for mediation will
lessen. The truth is that at present
the officials of the administration have
not the remotest faith In the accept
ance of mediation terms for long
time to come. but the President. wants
to keep the avenues open as best he
step sntieipated de ana " the facts made made
public. with unofficial comments and
analysis. diminishes the chance for the
fighting nations to get together even
at an early date.
Edward Grey. the British prime minis-
ter. to the representations of Ambas.
sador Page. at London. regarding the
Grey frankly told Mr.. Page that Eng
land could not consider mediation until
German militarism had been definitely
wiped out Of Europe: Mr.: Page cabled
hs tn hs St STATE he Rr%
the information of the President.
Duplicates of his statements were
forwarded from London to the British
ambassador am here, In some manner the
land were published in q newspaper in
this country twelve hours before the
State Department received the cable
message of Mr.. Page.
Practically the same thing has occur
red In the message Of Ambassador Ge-
rard. at Berlin. regarding Germany's
attitude on mediation.
Penalty for Disclosures.
The President. it Ia learned. has d.
rected Secretary Bryan to dismiss in
stantly from ONCE any employe of the
State Department who is found guilty
of making public q single word of mes
sages on important subjects of this
kind. and Mr.. Bryan has been assid-
uously looking for a leak" In his de-
partment with q view to prompt action.
II there are leaks from certain en-
bassies the State Department would be
glad to know the facts, too, 1t is said,
and suspicion has recently been direct
ed toward this likelihood. The Presi.
dent and Secretary Bryan are becoming
annoyed by Newspaper stories believed
to emanate from diplomatic sources,
but carefully handled so a. to give the
Impression that they have come out in
official circles in Warrington.
The reported message of Ambassador
,erard to the President giving the
,osition Of Germany AZ to mediation
ad not reached the State Department
,r the President before II became pub
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