The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-11-26
2 ON PEACE ERRAND7
U. s. MINISTER AND SWEDISH
ENVOY IN AMERICA,
Special Agent From King Has Mes
sage Too important to Trust
to the Mails.

New York, Nov 25.-Prospects Of
peace took on a much brighter hue
with the arrival from Europe Of two
ENJOYS, both of whom are believed to
have made the trip at the direction OF
neutral governments that think the
time has arrived to start the move
ment to end the war.
Henry Van Dyke, American minister
to the Netherlands, was one of the ar
rivals. He came direct from The
Hague and gave as his reason for max
ing the Journey his desire to consult
an oculist.
Although he declined to discuss a
report that he was bringing a sugges-
ton from the government Of the Meth
erlands to the United States looking
toward the opening of mediation ne
gotiations, the fact that on his way
across he had written statement for
reporters referring to the point was
regarded as significant This state
ment said that he was compelled to
obey instructions not to talk, but that
he hoped to return to The Hague soon
and continue working for the cause
OF worlds peace In the spirit of our
presidents declaration" .' sd W.
The other arrival whose journey was
linked with the movement for peace
was Per Ostberg, who came from
Christiansand bearing a special mes
sage from King Gustav of Sweden to
the Swedish embassy in Washington
which he said was too important to
trust to the mails or the cables He
said he did not know what the dis
patch box he carried contained, but he
thought that 1t dealt with other mat
ters than Sweden's neutrality status.
The message, he said, had been sealed
by the king personally and delivered
to him only when he was about to
board the vessel at Christiansand. He
left New York on the first train to
convey his message to the embassy in
Washington " ",. - w.. ...,..
AS the news spread, financial cir
cies began buzzing with discussions
Of peace probabilities. They were
especially interested in new rates on
war risks quoted by Lloyds in Lon
don, which in effect are ten to six
wagers that the war will be ended
by March 81. This Is a sharp rever.
sal of recent opinion in England, where
recent rates we're Ave to one that
peace would not be declared for a
year. '.' ..f.,
Friends OF Ambassador Van Dyke
have maintained all along that he
would be the American envoy most
likely to be summoned to Washington
when the administration became con.
WINGED that the time was nearing to
open peace negotiations. His refusal
to deny that he had come on such
a mission only served to strengthen
his friends belief that that was the
real object Of his trip
Berlin, Nov. 25.-The Cologne Ca
zette says that the reports Of a Ger.
man desire for peace, which II be.
lieves are probably inspired by the
British, belonging to the region OF
higher political idiocy." .,.t
THE position of the Germans,
neither in the east nor the vest It
continues, lis critical The German
undertakings on all the bat
tie fields are progressing favoratIy.
Neither the military nor the political
situation contains reason which
might make Germany DESTROYS to con.
clude peace" ."..,r d..
British reports Of the sinking of
German submarines we're officially de-
clared false here. 1t was stated that
no submarines were missing.