Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-25
SEES NO PROSPECT
FOR EARLY PEACE
President Hears From Col. House
Results of His Visits to
European Capitals.
PUBLIC OPINION UNPREPARED
Freedom of Seas" Probably Will
Play Important Part in
Amy Negotiations.


Wilson does not see any prospect. for
an carly peace in Europe.
Colonel +. NJ. House, his unofficial
envoy to Europe. gave tho President
to-day the results Of his sojourn of
several 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 he enjoyed to-
day reflect the ideas held by both diplo-
matists and the military element in
each Of the countries at war
colonel House also disclosed the cur
rents of public opinion in each country
AS to peace terms.
The President has been guided large
ly by what Colonel House has reported
to him by cable and letters in handling
the delicate question of renewing the
efforts of tho United States to bring
about general acceptance Of media
ton. Mr.. Wilson himself said last
Tuesday that no new tenders Of good
Offices had been made to any Of the
warrlng powers. but that all foreign
governments understood the willing
ness OF the United States to be of any
service in any way possible to pave the
way for an approach to peace.
STRUCK By TNPREPAREDNEss
OF PUBLIC OPINION
One Fundamental thing the President
has learned. which has affected the eff
forts OF the United States to make
peace. is the unpreparedness Of public
opinion in some OF the belligerent coun-
tries as to terms which they fear their
adversaries might advance. or that al
ready are discussed Colonel House OBJ
served that public opinion in some
countries insisted on terms which the
governments OF those countries already
had learned in various ways would not
be acceptable 10 their opponents.
In all countries Colonel House found
there had developed among the masses
a desire for a settlement that would be
comm ensurate with sacrifices made by
the people. II left TO the diplomatists
in Europe alone. a return to the terri
torial status quo perhaps would not be
difficult, some OF the information .indi-
Gated.
In Germany. il seemed, according to
Information given to the President, that
the object of large and influential
party was to prepare public opinion for
many's best interests lie in colonial
expansion, and the development of
overseas commerce. rather than In ter
ritorial extension In Europe. The ques-
tion. however. which Colonel House
thinks likely will play a most import
ant part in any peace negotiations is
freedom Of the seas"-the principle
that the property of all private citizens,
ha11 ha
from 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 "Declara-
tion OF London" but no general ratif-
cation or agreement was obtained The
American delegations to the first and
second conferences at The Hague were
instructed to vote for the adoption of
this principle.
WIDELY VARYING OPINION
IS FOUND AMONG ALLIES
Colonel House Is known to be a sup
porter Of the freedom OF the seas"
principle, and in his discussion of the
subject abroad there Ia some reason to
believe that he had the sanction Of the
the allies a widely varying opinion
Neither the President nor Colonel
House would make formal statement
tonight on their conference. Presi-
dent Wilson is considered by Colonel
House as the man most likely TO restore
peace to the world. While the Presi-
dent was playing golf at the Piping
Rock Club. on Long Island, to-day,
Colonel House. who was sitting on the
porch of the clubhouse. turned to a
friend and pointed to the President,
saying there was the man likely to
bring about peace.
Colonel 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 a highly intelligent man
ner, and as we'll as any man could
handle them. He is understood to have
said the President displayed remark
able Knowledge of the European stu
alton during their long talk.
Colonel House informed the Presi-
dent that no peace moves were being
carried on in Europe at present. He
gained this information from officials
or the countries now engaged in war
The President, en- route from Washing
ton to his summer home at Cornish,
". H., spent tho day with Colonel
House at Roslyn. l.. L.. receiving first
hand Colonel Houses impression Of tho
war situation in Europe as It affects
the United States
Colonel House, ten days home from n
four-months' trip that carried him to
London, Paris and Berlin. greeted the
President at the Roslyn station and
took him imm mediately TO his country
estate.
VISITED OFFICIALS
IN WARRING NATIONS
What Colonel House told the Presi-
dent was gained from Il trip that
started on January 80. when he sailed
from New York, and ended with his
return here June ii. He visited For
etgn Minister Grey at London, and in
Paris was reported to have delivered
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VIRGINIA