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

THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR TALKS 323

Colonel House to the President
PRIDE'S CROSSING, MASSACHUSETTS
September 6, 1914
DEAR GOVERNOR:
Last night I had a conference with the Austrian Ambassador. He talked very indiscreetly and, if one will sit still, he
will tell all he knows. I sat very still.
I learned that the Germans were making a mighty effort to
gain a decisive victory in France and that, when that was
accomplished, they would be ready to consider overtures for
peace.
I also learned that their great fear was starvation. Austria
is fairly self-sustaining and, because of her close proximity to
Roumania, she would not unduly suffer; but Germany faces
famine if the war continues.
England, it seems, lets no ship pass into neutral ports
without first ascertaining whether or not it contains foodstuffs; and when it does, she exercises her right to purchase
it.
What Dumba particularly wants, is for the American ships
to defy England and feed Germany....
He spoke of England's enormous power and said Germany's military power was not to be compared with that
which England exercised over the entire world because of her
navy. He forgot to add that England is not exercising her
power in an objectionable way, for it is controlled by a
democracy.
He strongly deprecated the war and said if he had been
Foreign Minister in Austria it would never have occurred.
He intimated that Germany and Austria felt that Russia
would have been prepared in 1915, and therefore it was
necessary to anticipate her...
He deprecated the use of bombs.
Your very affectionate
E. M. HOUSE