The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-06-10
Envoy Arrives
in Washington
to Talk Peace
Van Ghell Geldemeester BrInas In.
formation Of Peace Parties in
England and Germany

Washington, June Van GhelI
Geldemeester, son of the religious adj
wiser to Queen Wilhelmina of Hol
land, has, by brief visit to Washing.
ton after conferences in Berlin with
high German officials, set in motion
much speculation in official and dip.
lomatic quarters here about the pos.
sibility of peace in Europe.
Mr.. Geldemeester, it became known
today, saw DR.. Won Jagow, the Ger.
man foreign secretary, and other
members of the imperial ministry
shortly after the Lusitania was sunk
and received certain impressions con.
corning the German attitude toward
the war and the ultimate making of
peace. With the knowledge though
not with the authority of the Ger.
man officials, he started for Washing
ton In the hope that informally he
could portray German feelings in
Official quarters. On his arrival here
last week he visited Count Won Bern.
storff, the German ambassador. The
latter, learning that Mr.. Geldemees.
ter had been in Berlin and had been
at the German foreign office, gave
his visitor a letter of introduction
setting these facts forth.
Not German Emissary
The ambassador asked the Assocl.
ated Press tonight TO emphasize that
Mr.. Geldemeester carried no creden.
tials from Germany and had abso.
lutely no official connection with his
government.
Mr. Geldemeester left Washington
Saturday without seeing any promi.
hent officials Of the American gov.
eminent. He started on a trip to
New York, Chicago and other cities
with the idea of convincing the edi.
tors OF German American newspapers
OF the help they can render in pro.
moting more friendly relations be.
tween Germany and the United States
While in Washington the visitor
from the Netherlands gave the i'm.
preston to those with whom he talk.
ed that there was a peace party of
some Importance in Great Britain as
well as In Germany, and that what
was most needed at present was a
continued pressure by the neutrals
Tor mediation. He intimated to some
OF his friends, that he feared his own
country-Holland might be drawn
into the conflict II 1t continued. but
was hopeful that efforts by neutrals
to mediate, II begun now, would be
successful.
Would Welcome Peace
Most significant OF the impressions
which Mr.. Geldemeester brought
from Berlin, 1t was said today was
that large section Of the populace
and an important element In the Ger.
man government itself were not in
sympathy with the extreme militar-
lists and believe a discussion of peace
terms not undesirable.
Just how far Mr.. Geldemeester
may have been encouraged in Berlin
to present his views to the people of
the United States is not definitely
known.
Jane Adams and others interested
in peace who have recently visited
Berlin, have been cordially received
by high German officials and in Ger.
man quarters here lately there has
been constant reference to the like.
lihood Of peace growing out OF the
present correspondence concerning
neutral rights.
In allied quarters here any talk of
peace emanating from Germany is
looked upon with much circumspe,.
ton and doubt, and the time is re.
garded as inopportune with German
troops on French, Belgian and Rus.
sian soil. 1t is suggested, too, that
peace talk might be designed to di.
vert the attent on Of the government
and people Of the United States from
the serious issues involved in the
sinking of the Lusitania.
Mr.. Geldemeester is expected back
in Washington in a few days. He
may not desire to see officials, but
to inform himself in other ways on
the feeling concerning peace as It
would be reflected in the diplomatic
and official quarters of the capital Of !
the largest neutral nation. He plans
to return to Europe soon,
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