The President is willing and anxious for me to go to England and Germany as soon as there is anything tangible to go on, and whenever my presence will be welcome.  The Germans have already indicated this feeling but I have not been able to get from Spring Rice any expression from his Government.

As I told you before, the President does not wish to offend the sensibilities of any one by premature action, but he is, of course, enormously interested in initiating at least tentative conversations.

     Will you not advise me in regard to this?

     Faithfully yours,
     E.M.  HOUSE.

From Edward M. House 115 East 53rd Street, New York City.  January 18, 1915.

     DEAR PAGE: 

     The President has sent me a copy of your confidential dispatch No.
     1474, January 15th.

     The reason you had no information in regard to what General French
     mentioned was because no one knew of it outside of the President
     and myself and there was no safe way to inform you.

As a matter of fact, there has been no direct proposal made by anybody.  I have had repeated informal talks with the different ambassadors and I have had direct communication with Zimmermann, which has led the President and me to believe that peace conversations may be now initiated in an unofficial way.

     This is the purpose of my going over on the Lusitania, January
     30th.  When I reach London I will be guided by circumstances as to
     whether I shall go next to France or Germany.

The President and I find that we are going around in a circle in dealing with the representatives in Washington, and he thinks it advisable and necessary to reach the principals direct.  When I explain just what is in the President’s mind, I believe they will all feel that it was wise for me to come at this time.

     I shall not write more fully for the reason I am to see you so
     soon.

     I am sending this through the kindness of Sir Horace Plunkett.

     Faithfully yours,
     E.M.  HOUSE.

P.S.  We shall probably say, for public consumption, that I am coming to look into relief measures, and see what further can be done.  Of course, no one but you and Sir Edward must know the real purpose of my visit.

Why was Colonel House so confident that the Dual Alliance was prepared at this time to discuss terms of peace?  Colonel House, as his letter shows, was in communication with Zimmermann, the German Under Foreign Secretary.  But a more important approach had just been made, though information bearing on this had not been sent to Page.  The Kaiser had asked President Wilson to transmit to Great Britain a suggestion for making peace on the basis of surrendering Belgium and of paying for its restoration.  It seems incredible that the