The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-30
PEACE NOT YET near
COL. HOUSE TELLS PRESIDENT
PEOPLES NOT YET READY
QUESTIONS TO come UP
Think Freedom Of Seas'' VIII Fig
ure Prominently in Discussions
Diplomstists, Says House, II Left
Alone Would Not Find Agreement
Between Them Very Difficult.

President Wilson does not see any
prospect for an earlv peace in Eu-
rope. Col. E. NJ. House, his unofficial
envoy to Europe, has given the presi-
dent the results Of his sojourn Of sew
eral months in European capitals,
where he talked intimately with the
responsible officials Of the German,
British and french governments, and
the information he impaired in the
long walks and talks which they en-
joyed reflected definitely the ideas
held by both diplomatists and the
military element in each of the coun-
tries at war.
Col. House also disclosed the cur
rents Of public opinion in each coun-
try as to peace terms. The president
has been guided largely by what Col.
House has reported to him by cable
and letters in handling the delicate
question Of renewing. the efforts Of
the United States to bring about a
general acceptance of mediation. No
new tenders Of good Offices have been
made to any Of the warning powers.
One fundamental thing the prea-.
dent has learned is the unprepared-
ness Of public opinion in some Of the
belligerent countries as to terms
which they fear their adversaries
might advance, or that already are
discussed. Col. House observed that
public opinion in some countries in
sisted on terms which the govern
ments of those countries already had
learned in various ways would not be
acceptable to their opponents.
In all countries, Col. House found
there had developed among the mass
es a desire for a settlement that
would commensurate with sacrifices
made by the people. If left to the
dplomatists in Europe alone, res
turn to the territorial status quo per-
haps would not be difficult, some OF
the information indicated.
In Germany, it seems, according
to information given the president,
the object Of a large and influential
party vas to prepare public opinion
for realization of the idea that Ger
many's best interests lie in colonial
expansion and the incidental develop
,ment Of overseas commerce, rather
than in territorial extension in Eu-
rope proper.
The Question, however, which Col.
House thinks likely will play a most
important part in any peace negota-
tions is freedom Of the seas" the
principle that the property Of all pri-
Eate citizens, except contraband, shall
be exempt from capture or seizure
on the high seas in time Of war.
This point was discussed at the
first and second Hague conferences
and at the London naval conference
which brought forth the so-called
Declaration of London but no gem
eral ratification or agreement was
obtained. The American delegations
to the first and second Hague con-
ferences were instructed to vote for
the adoption Of this principle.
Col. House is known to be a sup
porter of the freedom Of the seas"
principle and in his discussion Of the
subject while abroad there is soma
reason to believe that he had the
sanction of the president. Col. House
found among the allies a widely
varying opinion. Neither the presi-
dent nor Col. House would make a
formal statement on their conference.
President Wilson is considered by
Col. House as the man most likely
to restore peace to the world. AS
the president was playing golf at the
Piping Rock club on Long Island
Col. House, who was sitting on the
porch of the club house, turned to a
friend and pointed to the president,
saying, there was the man likely
to bring about peace"
Col. House told friends that the
president knew far more about the
European situation than he did and
was handling the problems growing
out of the war in highly intelligent
manner and as well as any man could
handle them. He is understood to
have said the president displayed re-
markable knowledge of the European
situation during their long talk.