The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-04-22
What Foreign Ambassadors
Think of Peace Prospects
Writer interviews ENJOYS Their Views Abou
Peace and Peace Terms-British Diplomat
Refers Inquiry to State Department

Fear holds our lovely Capital in icy
hand. Suspicion Is in the air. Pre-
caution guards the doors OF the public
buildings. The nervous strain of Sc
crecy and uncertainty is written on
every face. Police eyes stare at you
from all sides.
And Washington was so beautiful
after the Inauguration. Spring had
sent its first messengers. Golden,
warm sunrays played hide-and-seek on
the snowy sidewalks and punches OF
violets, Of jonquils and of fragrant
narcissus filled the baskets of flower
sellers on every corner. These are the
statements made by Guido Bruno in
Parsons.
Now the gates to the White House
are closed, continues the writer. UNI
formed policemen guard them and are
posted at intervals about the grounds.
The seats OF the government depart
ments are also closed to the public.
Huge signs display the message: mo
one admitted without a pass" Visitors
are handed on from guard to guard
and watched as IL they had bombs
in every pocket
1 went to Washington and stayed
for a few days to find out how far
peace was In the air.
The New York Times mad reproduced
without contradiction his statement
that on the 9th of January q peace
conference and armistice were agreed
to by the British Ambassador when
Germany suddenly decided upon its
ruthless submarine war.
Everything changed in a twinkling.
Our relations with Germany were sew
cred abruptly; war preparations were
on every hand; but had the Peace idea
been abandoned?
Very often a direct question is con-
sidered worthy of a direct answer. And
so 1 went to the representatives OF
the foreign nations in Washington.
spread before them the main points Of
Mr. Harris article and asked them
their opinion. All and every one Of
those to whom 1 spoke agreed heartily
that Peace was the one prayer OF their
nation. All of them were unanimous
in the opinion that the moral influ-
ence upon all the belligerents of Amer
Ica's participation in the war would be
tremendous.
Sir Cecil SprIng-RIce.
called up the office of the British
Embassy over the telephone and asked
the secretary of Sir Cecil Spring-Rice
to arrange for me for an interview
with the Ambassador. explained why
l wanted this interview and also what
question I wished to ask. Later on
in the day I received a message from
the Honorable Thomas Spring-Rice. the
son, that His Britannia Majesty's
Ambassador could not answer my
question. but he would advise me to
go over to the State Department 81
the United States and place the ques-
ton before the officials there. These
matters are of the utmost Importance
for both governments and Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice would be glad to see me
and answer any questions after they
had been referred to him by the State
Department" How strange, l thought
What has our State Department to do
with the fact that the British Ambas-
sador had listened. had agreed to
Peace Conferencer
again called up the embassy and
was told that Sir Spring-Rice was
at the State Department Some day
we may learn all about the relations
existing between Sir Spring-Rice and
our Department OF State.
Mr.. J. J. Jussersnd is the dean Of