New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-14
BRITAIN GUARDS
WILSON'S ENVOY
ON YANKEE SHIP
Destroyers Convoy the 81
Paul, with Col. House,
Through War Zone.

Through War Zone.
Great Britain made certain by con-
voy Of destroyers that Colonel L. NJ.
House. President Wilson's personal rep
resentative, would not be molested on
his way out Of the war zone, and his
arrival here yesterday on the American
liner St. Paul was likewise safeguarded
by Dudley Field Malone, Collector OF
the Port.
1t was said that these precautions
were due to the fact that Colonel House
bore important messages and reports
for President Wilson from London, and
the British Foreign Office was deter
mined they should not go awry through
German undersea interference.
The personal representative, how
ever, had dispatches from Berlin also
and it was reasonably sure that Ger
many would not do anything TO prevent
,heir delivery Moreover, the st. Paul
is an American steamship. She carried
several hundred Americans, and the
possibility Of her being torpedoed wa'
unlikely.
Not Offered Bryan's Place.
One Of the first questions reporters
fred at Colonel House after his ar
rival here yesterday afternoon was:
"Whos going to be the next Secre
tary of State ?"
T don't know" Immediately an
swered "the silent member Of the Cab
met"
at is said the Secretaryship has been
offered to you, colonel" suggested re-
porter.
Colonel House smiled in the charac'
teristic and mystifying House fashion.
Would you accept IL II IL was Of
fered to YOU" The question was point
blank
"Why. I haven't been even offered
it," said the Presidents confdant.
The colonel, who is usually just
about as garrulous as a clam, opened
up a bit during the interview, but,
according TO his rule, would not com
NIT himself about the most important
things. When he was urged to COM
ment on Mr.. Bryan's resignation, he
evaded all questions, and would not
even admit that he was surprised. VI
course, he got around the question as
TO what specific mission he went
abroad on by simply answering:
"Oh, | 20 over every year, anyway.
Colonel House left here January 80
on the Lusitania-on the voyage on
which she flew the American flag up st,
Georges Channel. He was three
weeks in London, meeting Sir Edward
Grey, Premier Asquith, Lloyd George
and Lord Kitchener, all Of whom, he
said yesterday, he had known before
at the same time taking occasion 10
state that his visit was entirely un-
official.
He went 10 Paris for g week, where
he talked with Premier Delcasse and
President Poincare, and thence to Ber-
lin. where he saw Won Jagow, Won Beth
mann -Hollweg and Zimmerman, the
Under Secretary Of State for Foreign
Affairs. While in Berlin he was the
guest of Ambassador Gerard. He said
yesterday he did not meet the Kaiser
From Berlin he went 10 Switzerland
where he saw Minister Stovall.
Sees Little Hope for Peace.
There is not much hope for peace at
present, Colonel House said. adding
that while all the countries seemed
tired of war, there was not sufficient
diminution of popular support of night
inc for the end TO be looked for now
Some one asked him as TO the facts In
the reported shortage Of ammunition
in England. He answered: Il saw
nothing shouldn't have seen and noth.
ing | shouldn't have heard" More OF
the interview ran this way:
"What do you think of the lack OF
food in Germany
81 don't think there's any lack"
"Did you sound the feeling IN the
neutral nations. such as Switzerland
"No."
"Did you talk peace?"
"No, | didn't talk peace. That's the
biggest piece Of nonsense ever sent
out" -,
"Well, you didn't talk war;"
"Of course not
When the mysterious Colonel House
was asked whether he had dispatches
for the President and whether he had
been communicating with him he mere
ly.said the Chief Executive was close
friend of his and he might be likely TO
communicate with him; in fact, often
communicated with him.
War Outcome Guesses.
whats going to be the outcome OF
the war;" a reporter asked him.
That's easy" smiled Colonel House
"You mean Germany will be beat
en-"
T don't mean it that way. You
know as we'll as Deleasse or Won Jagow
or Sir Edward Grey or any OF them,
answered the colonel, who did not ex.
plain himself further.
do you think the United States ha,
lost her potential power Is a peace
maker since the notes 70 Germ~py~
81 didn't know she ever had the
power"
Colonel House also said he did not
know anything about possible change
in the ehairmanship or the Democratic
National Committee, did not see any
submarines coming over and saw nc
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