The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-02
The selusspn Of Problem Re
commended by Ambassa-
dcgs sacrrick and Gerard
Definite Action
Expected Monday
Government viii Take No I'm
mediate Steps. Blu, Wait
Day CT Two for Develop
ments

wasAinstan, August $50 serious
IL sae plIFsst ~ the thousands Of
American tourists IN Europe that two
American ambassadors today recon-
Aaes8oa TO Washiuston that the
United States government send
Steamships ~ Europe 20 bring home
the Americans
Ambassador Herriek. at Paris, ard
Ambassador Gerard. al Berlin, who
are at two of the three chief ceDters
tor Americans ga Europe. made the
Recommendation. Each suggested
this solution ot the problem without
knowledge that his colleague WAS 80
Recommending,
the state department today de
eia@d to take nc action in the matter
isanedis tely. but 20 wait Yer dag or
twe and see how the situation de-
sSlcrs
Tonight reports 81 the declaration
II war hy Germany aEatns, Russia
inspired she belief that next Monday
would sec steps taken 10 act On the
suggestion 81 American ambassadors
II liz praiga :ete that a consultation Win
be Rad a; the white House between
the president ard Secretary Bryan.
ard Democratic leaders In the house
ard sena@e. with a View OF determin-
Ing wAst action In this direction is
practicable. Nothing can be done
without o. appropriation by congress
as the state department has no fuads
large enough to undertake such an
extensive project
Plight of Americans
The plight OF Americans in Europe
Was recognized by the State depart
ment 70 the extent Of framing changes
In thu passport regulations which
will make II easter for Americans
abroad to establish their identity be-
fore European officials. I'm ergnnoy
passports and Credentials Will be
isxued@ 10 all Americans -va, lack
xach credentials with greater facility
thsn ever before
The majority OF Americans who 60
over the regular tourist paths IN
Europe neglect TO provide themselves
vita passports and on ordinary cir
cumxtances never ,nlss them. In the
present CO se. however, any foreigner
without pagers definitely establishing
his identity is likely to find himself
In serious difficulty with the officials
Of the countries In which military law
has been estahs2ahed.
The state department today re-
ce.vea practically no adviccs fre N Its
consular representatives in Europe,
though 1t Ia known that every con-
suiate In the countries frequented by
Americans liz being beseiged by
Americans II Is believed that con-
suis are encoun,erlng great difficulty
In getting messages accepted and
transmitted over the government
controlled lin ee Of Europe which have
f,een taken over for military pur-
poses II is known, too, that many
Of the international lines Of com
naunsoat.on have been broken as tho
result of military measures,
Won't Use ISsttleeships.
officials were tonight Of the opfn-
lon that the only practicable ste%'
which can he taken In acting upon
the suggestion To send ships TO
Europe for Americans will be 10
charter such vessels Rs may be avail
able, as was done in Mexico. II is
not considered at all advisable that
nava, vessels will be taken for this
purpose. one reason being that they
are not at all fitted for carrying pas
sengers and another being that this
ss got gar1ed as 2 proper moment
for the United States navy to engage