The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-18
The Trip to Europe.

After receiving n. Forge and mis- COM
m.ttee represc"t!rg American newspa-
pers published In foreign languages and
hearing their plea 10 become a peace
maker, Mr.. Bryan stated 10 his callers
that there was a possibility that he
might go TO Europe.
Even II it is impossible" he said,
80 exert any influence toward the hasten
ing = peace. a trip to the neutral cuuu-
tries might give me Information that |
could use IA the work which lies before
me here. namely the maintenance u
neutrality and the prevention Of pre-
paredness that pruNokes rather than pre-
vents war.
1T is possible also that ! might con-
tribute something toward the extension
of the peace plan 10 which our country
Is committed and which | confidently
look pon as a powerful influence for the
prevention Of war. Among the thirty
nat!-ns hat have already entered into
the treaties, are four Of the belligerent
nations. namely Great Britain, France,
Russia and Italy.
The fact that We have treaties with
these nations enables us 10 carry OF our
diplomatic disputes with trem without
any OF the sersatiOnallsm that has at
tended our correspondence with Ger
many.
Germany. Austria and Belgium have
Iip Sfi Aif III All'4lffs buN nave not Vet
signed treaties As this treaty plan was
offered to all the nations and has not
been withdra an. / take IL for granted
hat our Government would gladly enter
into treaties with Germany. Austria and
Belgium similar TO the reatles We have
with the other countries, and such
treaties void silence the lingo press, and,
10 a large extent. remove the excuse
which has been used FOR the propagation
90, 49,. loot -f sNA ~ RATA 80 ,IA -.
Having great faith in the plan and
having negotiated the other treaties |
might be able to present the case more
strongly in personal interviews than |
was able to do By diplomatic corre-
sp~ondence. and now that the advantage
OF these treaties have been more APP
parent IL is possible that Germany,
Austria and Belgium might be willing
TO enter into such treaties.
81 MENTION these as matters worthy
OF consideration and shall myself give
them weight In reaching a conclusion"
National Defence.
Mr.. Bryan touched on his views OF
national defence in these words
The foreign born element OF this
country also understands from expert
ence the heavy burden which the policy
of preparedness has thrown upon Eurl-
pean nations and cannot fail to note
the use which is being made of the war
TO support the demand for larger ex-
penditures OF the army and navy"
Earlier IN the day Mr., Bryan had
this to say OF the national defence propa-
ganda
81 think the military preparedness
which is being advocated by the Ma
tional Security League and the Navy
league would provoke war instead OF
preventing II. We cannot have the pre-
pa redness which they are asking unless
we subject ourselves to the leadership
of the men who believe In II. and they
would not only provoke future wars, but
they would lead US into the present war
II they could"
Mr., Bryan even opposed the Swiss
system OF defence as being UNI
suitable to the needs OF the United
States with reference to II he said
~ we were surrounded by nation
greater than ourselves and separated
from them by an imaginary line. It
might he worth while TO consider what
nations SO situated should do, But our
nation il not situated or surrounded as
Sui'ze-,and is and ] see no reason for
the cultivation OF the military spirit IN
this country"