The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-29

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
their sympathy. consideration. and as
sistance.
That, however. which really brought
about the result-in fact, saved the boys
lfe-was the intercession OF Mr.. Roose-
Welt ! appealed to him. He responded
with characteristic interest. force, and
directness.
Mr.. Roosevelt has consented to per-
which he sent me after we were in
formed of the decision reached in the
case:
Col Roosevelt's letter reads:
81 have received from the British
Ambassador. at Washington. a letter
stating that Sir Edward Grey and Mr..
Balfour have carefully gone over the
facts about Mr.. Triest, as set forth in
my letter. They tell me that they find
that Triest shows no signs Of madness.
but may have an unbalanced mind. and
that the British government is prepared
TO give him the benefit of the doubt
EngIand's One Condition.
He continues: What they are pre-
pared to agree TO is the following: II
the father comes over to England and
makes himself responsible for taking
his son in his own personal charge and
escort back to America, the boy will
be handed over without being brought
to trial II he Is brought to trial the
trial can hardly fail to end in condem-
nation the facts being as they are. The
only way to avoid a trial is the course
which Sir Edward suggests. Please IN
form the persons concerned.
please show this letter to Mr.. Triest.
I understand he has agreed to the con-
ditions. That is. will make himself re-
enonEfhla fOr taEfnev in his
personal charge to America with him.
II the boy shall appear to be still or
unbalanced mind, my own judgment IS
he ought to be sent to some sanitarium.
at least until this war is over.
IF he has in any way recovered. then
Mr. Triest should bring him to me and
give me the opportunity to explain to him
in the presence of his father and OF your
self the terrible character of the ofrense
he has committed and the heavy load OF
obligation he and his family are under to
the British government. I wish him TO
that the offense in his case Is
not only an offense against the law of
nations but an offense against the law
of honor as understood by gentlemen.
An offense which-if IL had not been COM
mitted when his mind was unbalanced
would unfit him for association with any
soldiers of a high standard of profess
sional and personal probity and honor.
..Butchery of Miss Cavel1.''
Moreover. he should understand and
appreciate the contrast between the con-
duct of the British government in his
case. and the conduct of the German gov
in permitting and sanctioning.
what in order to be truthful can only
describe as the butchery of Miss Cavell.
Miss Cavell was butchered for actions
such as were taken by hundreds. prob
ably thousands of women In our civil
war-and 1t never entered the heads of
either the Union or Confederate govern
ments that II was possible so much as
even to consider putting to death these
women. The execution Of Miss Cavell
was a deed of black horror-and when I
saw the account of IL 1 confess I did not
believe the British government would in
terfere in the case of young Triest.
"Of course. the British government had
a thousandfold more justification for in
sisting upon the execution OF Triest than
the German government had for putting
to death Miss Cavel- The boy should be
made to understand the mercy and mag
nanimity with which the British govern
ment has treated him.
Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"