The World's work Volume 43

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 Excerpt: ...being authorized to do so." "The Germans," added Sir Cecil, "have a way of making such statements unofficially and then denying that they have ever made them." Both the British and French ambassadors," however, thought that the proposal should be seriously considered. "If it holds out one chance in a hundred of lessening the length of the war, we should entertain it," said Ambassador Jusserand. "1 certainly hope that you will entertain it cordially," said Mr. Straus. "Not cordially--that is a little too strong." "Well, sympathetically?" "Yes, sympathetically," said M. Jusserand, with a smile. These facts were at once cabled to Page, who took the matter up with Sir Edward Grey. A despatch from the latter to the British Ambassador in Washington gives a splendid summary of the British attitude on such approaches at this time. Sir Edward Grey to Sir C. Spring Rice. Foreign Office, September 9, 1914. Sir: The American Ambassador showed me to-day a communication that he had had from Mr. Bryan. It was to the effect that Mr. Straus and Mr. Speyer had been talking with the German Ambassador, who had said that, though he was without instructions, he thought that Germany might be disposed to end the war by mediation. This had been repeated to Mr. Bryan, who had spoken to the German Ambassador, and had heard the same from him. Mr. Bryan had taken the matter up, and was asking direct whether the German Emperor would accept mediation if the other parties who were at war would do the same. The American Ambassador said to me that this information gave him a little concern. He feared that, coming after the declaration that we had signed last week with France and Russia about carrying on the war ...