igis!] Further Discussion 



We also suggested that the approach of the Christ- Christmas 

 mas season, to be followed by another winter of ^'""' 

 horrors, gave valid reasons for immediate action, and 

 the religious fervor then rising abroad might be led 

 into constructive channels. The Christmas idea — 

 mediation between the past and the future — seemed 

 to impress the President, who nodded gravely. 



We further argued that if Holland or Sweden 

 should go ahead without us, America would be laid 

 open to the charge of getting rich out of war, though 

 only a few of our people were thus engaged. "Only a 

 few," repeated the President. 



That newspapers in belligerent nations often Facts not 

 grossly misrepresented events, we admitted, but in ^°^^/"" 

 any case the press could not conceal the fact of a con- 

 ference, nor obscure its recommendations. In spite 

 of the rigors of censorship, news leaked out in Ger- 

 many, and the heroic anti-imperialists of the " Bund 

 Neues Vaterland" would uphold efforts for peace at 

 the risk of their lives. 



As we left, I assured him of the full support and 

 cooperation of Miss Addams and her associates, 

 whom for the day I represented. He seized my hand 

 firmly and said: "I assure you, gentlemen, that you 

 have done me real good." But in response to Loch- 

 ner's question as to the time of action, he said : " It is 

 for me to say when the right moment, in my judg- 

 ment, arrives." 



In New York, a few days later, I called upon Cohnei 

 Colonel Edward M. House, the President's personal ^™"' 

 mainstay in matters of European diplomacy. House 

 is a quiet, unselfish, keenly observant man who had 

 already twice visited different chancelleries in Mr. 

 Wilson's interest. His advice, I felt, would be of 



1:679 3 



