in any
way. "Sir Edward is very appreciative of our mood and willingness," Page
wrote in reference to this visit. "But they don't want peace on the
continent--the ruling classes do not. But they will want it presently
and then our opportunity will come. Ours is the only great government in
the world that is not in some way entangled. Of course I'll keep in
daily touch with Sir Edward and with everybody who can and will keep me
informed."

This was written about July 27th; at that time Austria had sent her
ultimatum to Serbia but there was no certainty that Europe would become
involved in war. A demand for American mediation soon became widespread
in the United States; the Senate passed a resolution requesting the
President to proffer his good offices to that end. On this subject the
following communications were exchanged between President Wilson and his
chief adviser, then sojourning at his summer home in Massachusetts. Like
Mr. Tumulty, the President's Secretary, Colonel House usually addressed
the President in terms reminiscent of the days when Mr. Wilson was
Governor of New Jersey. Especially interesting also are Colonel House's
references to his own trip to Berlin and the joint efforts made by the
President and himself in the preceding June to forestall the war which
had now broken out.

_Edward M. House to the President_

Pride's Crossing (Mass.),

August 3, 1914. [Monday.]

The President,

The White House, Washington, D.C.

Dear Governor:

Our people are deeply shocked at the enormity of this general
European war, and I see here and there regret that you did not use
your good offices in behalf of peace.

If this grows into criticism so as to become noticeable I believe
everyone would be pleased and proud that you had anticipated this
world-wide horror and had done all that was humanly possible to
avert it.

The more terrible the war becomes, the greater credit it will be
that you saw the trend of events long before it was seen by other
statesmen of the world.

Your very faithful,
E.M. House.

P.S. The question might be asked why negotiations were only with
Germany and England and not with France and Russia. This, of
course, was because it was thought that Germany would act for the
Triple Alliance and England for the Triple Entente[65].

_The President to Edward M. House_

Th