The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

BRITISH MESSAGES TO THE KAISER 271

planned her attack upon Serbia, and Germany blindly approved, while the wheels of war were already being geared,
the British Foreign Office made definite albeit rather belated
response to the suggestions of House. On July 3 the Colonel
heard from Tyrrell that Grey wanted him to let the Kaiser
know of the peaceable sentiments of the British in order that
further negotiations might follow. House at once wrote a
long letter to His Imperial Majesty.
Colonel House to the President
LONDON, July 3, 1914
MY DEAR FRIEND:... Tyrrell brought word to me to-day that Sir Edward
Grey would like me to convey to the Kaiser the impressions
I have obtained from my several discussions with this Government, in regard to a better understanding between the
nations of Europe, and to try and get a reply before I leave.
Sir Edward said he did not wish to send anything official or
in writing, for fear of offending French and Russian sensibilities in the event it should become known. He thought it
was one of those things that had best be done informally
and unofficially.
He also told Page that he had a long talk with the German
Ambassador here in regard to the matter and that he had
sent messages by him directly to the Kaiser.
So you see things are moving in the right direction as
rapidly as we could hope.
Your faithful and affectionate
E. M. HOUSE