The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-06-08
HOLLAND VISITOR
HEREON MISSION
OF PEACE !. 5.
Is Private Citizen But Has Been in
Berlin For Conference
THINKS GERMANY is WILLING
Believes That the People of Neutral
Nations Can Bring Countries at
War to Cease Useless Strife.

Washington, June S-Van Ghell
Geldmeester, son of the religious adj
wiser to Queen Wihelmina of llol-
land, has by brief visit TO Washing
ton, after conferences in Berlin with
high German officials set in motion
much speculation in official and dip
lomatic quarters at Washington
about the possibility Of peace in Eur
ope.
Mr. Geldmeester saw DR.. Won Jag
ow, the German foreign secretary,
and other members of the imperial
ministry soon after the Lusitania was
sunk and received certain impress
sions concerning the German atti-
tude toward the war and the ultimate
making of peace. With the know
lege, though not with the authority,
of the German officials, he started for
Washington in the hope that inform
ally he could portray German feeling
in official quarters. On his arrival at
Washington last week he visited
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador The latter, learning
that Mr.. Geldmeester had been in
Berlin and had been at the German
foreign office gave his visitor a letter
OF introduction setting these facts
forth.
The ambassador asked the Associa-
ted Press last night TO emphasize
that Mr. Geldmeester carried no
credentials from Germany and had
absolutely no official connection with
his government Mr. Geldmeester
left Washington Saturday without
seeing any prominent officials of the
American government. He started
on trip to New York, Chicago and
other cities with the idea of conyinc-
ing editors of the German-American
newspapers of the help they can rend
er in promoting better and more
friendly relations b tween Germany
and the United States
While in Washington the visitor
from the Netherlands gave the inn
preston to those with whom he talk
ed that there was a peace party of
some Importance in Great Britain as
well as in Germany, and that what
was most needed at present was a
continued pressure by neutrals for
mediation. He intimated to some of
his friends that he feared his own
conutry-Holland- even be
drawn into the conflict if it continu-
ed, but was hopeful that efforts by
neutrals to mediate, if begun now,
would be successful.
Most significant of the impressions
which Mr.. Geldmeester brought from
Berlin, it was said yesterday, was
that large section of the populace
and an important element in the Ger
man government itself was not in
sympathy with the extreme military
policy and believed a discussion of
peace terms not undesirable
Just how far Mr.. Geldmeester has
been encouraged in Berlin to present
his views to the people in the United
States is not definitely known. Jane
Adams and Others interested in peace
who recently have visited Berlin have
been cordially received by high Ger
man officials and in German quarters
at Washington lately there has been
constant reference to the likelihood
OF peace growing out of the present
correspondence concerning neutral
rights.
In allied quarters at Washington
any talk of peace emanating from
Germany is looked upon with much
doubt and the time is regarded as in
opportune, with German troops on
French, Belgian and Russian soil. 1t
is suggested, too, that peace talk
might be designed to divert the at
tention of the government and people
of the United States from the serious
issued involved in the sinking of the
Lusitania. Mr.. Geldmeester is expect
ed back in Washington in few days.
He plans to return to Europe soon.