Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-04
PEACE AGITATION
MAY Be FRUITFUL
Pope's Suggestions to President
Expected to Bring About
Some Definite Action.
ONE BIG STUMBLING BLOCK
Strained Relations Between This
Country and Great Britain
Obstacle to Overtures.
ONE BIG STUMBLING BLOCK
Especial to The Times Dispatch ]

WASHINGTON. September OF
fetal Washington believes that tho
suggestions Of Pope Benedict TO Presi-
dent Wilson have started an agitation
that will not cease until proposals to
bring about European peace have actu-
ally been made 10y the State Department
TO the warning powers
State Department and White House
officials are not optimistic in the sense
that they believe results can bc
achieved Immediately, or within any
assignable period They are aware
however. that this government ha(
now been asked TO deal with definite
scheme. They also believe that the
message Of Pope Benedict is TO be esti-
mated from the viewpoint, not OF his own
opinions or desires. but from that Of
the expected intimate knowledge he
has of the future plans of Austria and
Germany.
Neither the White House nor the
state Department is yet able to say
definitely what direction will be given
TO the suggestions OF Pope Benedict
From the statement of Cardinal Glib
bons made here Yesterday and in Baiti-
more to-day. il seems that neither the
state Department nor the White House
.
zion from the Pop. without his expr SIS
scribed by all copcerned AS strictly
confidential
STRAINED RELATIONS
WITH GREAT nRITAINI
One high authority said to-day that
the chief stumbling block i'm the way
Of discussion Of peace is the strained
rcia tions At this moment between the
United states and Great Britain His
view IL that these relations Will be
more strained when the note of this
government TO Great Britain has been
made public II must be evident to all
officials. domestic and foreign hn said.
that there is the widest possible
divergence between the United states
and Great Britain on the freedom OF the
seas. which is perhaps tho most i'm
portant OF the preliminary agreements
for peace i'm Europe.
As a matter OF fact. all officials knew
yesterday that England. who probably
will dominate France and Russia
would not listen 10 is-.oE ,7pearc
which included freedom OF the s-os
All OF the answers of Greu; Britain TO
the suggestion or demand of President
Nilson 10 Great britain on :htt s:h-
Ject have been either evaded or fatty,
controrcrted Tho blockade cstab.
lished by Great britain under the order
in council is - denial OF the princ:nle
II freedom OF the seas, i'm respect that
ii arrosates to Great Britain the right
10 dictate under what terms neutral
shipping shall navigate free seas
Again Great I;rtain's declaration md
curt notification To this country that
when AN American ship is seized ;h.
state Department need not complain
10 'h.- British Foreign Office. but should
20 TO British prize court for "A
remedy, is 81 ilagrant denial OF the
pfihcipie or the freedom OF the seas
Ihese two suggestions aioue make It
very plain that Great Britain. il presi
dent Wilson should suggest mediation
to her. would reject the proposition at
this time
NOTHING OFFICIAL
TO SHOW MODIFICATION
1t is also pointed out that there has
been nothing presented onciall;. to the
State Department TO show that Great
britain would moiify any of ;he
stringent regulations OF the order I'm
council or Of the regulation Of Ameri-
can commerce by prize courts in Great
Britain.
u mas been reported that Great Brit
ain was willing To enter into negotia-
tiohs with American owners OF MANY
m'ihohs OF dollars worth of goods. which
are now held up at neutral continentuli
ports. I'm order 10 ascertain th. exac,
facts OF this repeated statement. Seq
retary of State lansing to-day cablcd
Ambassador Page at London for infor-
matiCn.
Should Great Britain formally make
concessions to American comp,crce :,
might soften in some degree the char
acter-o OF the reply which is about In no
made TO Sir Edward Grey by Secretary
OF state Lansing on the last two or
three British notes. which have been
regarded here as totally unSatiSfuct,ryN
with reference to the chances of
peace. the reply OF Great Britain on
the inquiry as to whether she has ,c-
tuaiIy made concessions to American
commerce Will determine to an extent
wheiher Great Britain may now he an.
preached on the subject OF peace uro
posals.
The fear. however, OF nearly all OF
the higher State Department officials
is that the next reply OF Great Britain
Will he even more unsa satisfactory than
hcf previous reply.
GERMANY'S CONCESSIONS
PRACTICALLY VALI I:Lt:SS
The whole drift of British opinion as
III reaches the State Department Is ihat
icrmanyS concessions made through
Ambassador Won Hernstorff arc prac-
ticaIly valu"lcss and that the United
states, by implication. should continue
TO pursu" Germany RGgressivcIy. The
chaiiccs arc, ~ the opinion OF officials
that thIS VIII not be done. especially
III Wow OF Secretary Of State I.ansinp's
statement that Germany has conceded
TO the United States the Fundamental
principles in dispute.
From German sources il Is learned
to-day that German officials were not
disposed to discredit as the probabl
terms of any peace the statement OF
those terms as published to-day. Tho