Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
HERR|CK'S CABLE
LOCATED IN FILES
Message Referred to as
"Lost" Part of War Core
spondence Kept on Record.

Examination Of official correspondence
Of the State Department dispels much
Il the mystery attached to the sup
posed ''lost cablegram" sent to Secre-
tary of State Bryan by Ambassador
Herrick from Paris on July %, 1914,
the eve of Austrias war declaration on
Serbia pleading that the United States
Government extend its good Offices in
an effort to avert general European
conflict.
Although the statement was made in
the opening installment of the Ambas-
sador's biography that Bryan never
answered or acknowledged the message,
the official records reveal that the ca
blegram is in the files of the State De-
partment. Within a few hours after
its receipt by Secretary of State Bryan,
the correspondence discloses that Of
fetal hastily communicated to Ambas-
sador Page in London a request for his
opinion regarding the likelihood of such
a tender of mediation being acceptable
to the nations involved. There is no
indication in the correspondence on
file, however that Bryan ever conveyed
his acknowledgment of the cablegram
to Ambassador Herrick.
The message follows:
July %, 1914, PM.
Secretary of State,
washington.
"Confidential-to be communicated
TO the President.
Situation in Europe is regarded here
as the gravest in history. 1t appre-
hended that civilization is threatened
by Generalization which would follow a
general conf1agration. Demonstration
laboring classes. 1t is said to be the
fret instance of its kind in France.
Urged Expression.
at is felt that if Germany once
mobilizes no backward step will be
taken. France has strong reliance on
her army, but is not giving way to I'M
reliance on our high ideals and pur-
poses, so that believe an expression
from our Nation would have great
weight in this crisis.
MY opinion is encouraged at recep-
ton given utterances of British min
lister of foreign affairs
L believe that strong plea for de-
lay and moderation from the President
of the United States would meet with
the respect :l and approval OF Europe and
urge the prompt consideration of this
question. This suggestion is consistent
with our plea for arbitration treaties
and attitude toward world affairs gen.
orally would not appear officious,
but deem it my duty to make this ex-
preston to you. HERRICK."
Whether President Wilson ever actual
ly saw a copy of Ambassador Herrick S
message or was aware of its existence,
the correspondence does not reveal and
there is only the statement of the
envoy contained in the biography that
he was informed by the President.
months afterward, that he had not
seen it.
While the records leave some doubt
as to the direct responsibility of Her.
rick's message in the resulting steps
taken with view to an offer of good
Offices, President Wilson undoubtedly
advised the State Department in GER
tain of the measures. Ambassador Her.
rick may have been without official
acknowledgment of the receipt of his
cablegram, but exactly eight days later,
on August 5, 1914. Secretary Bryan
transmitted through him to President
Poincare of France a note from the
American President saying that he
would welcome an opportunity to act