The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-16
DENIES PEACE MISSION.
COL. HOUSE SAYS HE SAW HEADS
OF EUROPEAN GOVERN
MENTS.
Did not Go to Talk Peace, but to
Learn Sentiment of European COun.
trics-Says lie Was not Rcprcsen-
tativc Of President Wilson.

and England, Col. Edward M. House,
who arrived from Liverpool today,
denied that his trip to Europe in any
way was connected with a possible
peace mission, or that he was the
personal emissary of President Will
son. Col. House was a passenger on
the American line steamship st. Paul.
Il did not talk peace and that was
not my mission abroad" Col House
declared. That report was the big
gest piece of nonsense that have
heard He also said that he was not
called home by President Wilson.
Col. House said that since leaving
New York on January 80 he had met
and talked with leading officials Of
the European governments, but added
that his visit was a personal one, as
private citizen. and that it had no
political significance. He said he went
to Europe almost every year and this
trip had been no exception as to in
tent or purpose.
Asked if he had communicated
with President Wilson during his alb
sence on any matter Of Importance
that had come to his notice, Col.
House said that such would be the
duty OF any American citizen and that
President Wilson was his personal
friend.
Col. House said he left New York
January 80 on the Lusitania, the trip
on which Capt Dow flew the Ameri-
can flag while passing the German
war zone. He added, however, that he
did not see the American flag. He
visited England for two weeks he
said, and while there talked with Pre-
mier Asquith, David Lloyd George
and Lord Kitchener.
From England he went to Paris,
where he visited week and was re-
ceived by President Poincare, Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs Delcasse and
others In both Of these countries, he
said, he stopped at hotels.
From Paris, Col. House said he
went to Berlin where he was a guest
Of Ambassador Gerard. In Germany
he talked with Foreign Ministe Won
Jagow and Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg, Under Secretary Of State
Zimmerman and others. He was in
Berlin for week, going thence to
switzerland and then back to London.
In Berlin. as everywhere else I
visited, l was treated nicely" said
Col. House. MY reason for talking
with the men l did had nothing to do
with peace. l knew them all and al
ways visit them." he added.
How long is this war going to
last?" he Was asked.
"You know as we'll as / do, or as
well as Sir Edward Grey or Minister
Delcasse or Won Jagow," was his re-
ply.
Does England want to see the
United States in this WARP" was an
other question put to him.
"OpiniOn is divided-some think IT
would not be an advantage to the
cause of the allies" was the answer.
Has the United States lost it's
standing as an influence for peace 2"
Il don't know that it has ever un-
dertaken the task" he said.
Col. House said that he was in Lon
don when the Lusitania was sunk
and when the first American note to
Germany was made public. He de-
clincd to comment on these subjects
He said that in all countries he visited
there was a strong spirit of confidence
as to an outcome favorable to the
side that the particular people favor
ed, but that the people generally were
tired OF war.
Asked about supplies Of foodstuffs,
ammunition, etc, he said that he had
seen nothing or heard nothing that
he should not see or hear.
The resignation OF William Jcn-
ningS Bryan as secretary was called
to his attention. He said he heard of
1t on the st. Paul, but he would make
no comment. AS to Mr.. Bryan's sue
cessor he said he had no idea. He
was told that he had been mentioned
as possible successor. He replied:
1t has not been offered to me. |
nave never held public office or de-
sired it,"
Col. House said he had not COM
municatcd with President Wilson
since his return. He expected to go
to Washington but did not know
when. He added that he had not
sounded neutral nations on the sub
Ject of peace or war.