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

374 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

only because it might make England's position misunderstood in Germany, but also because it would meet with a
storm of disapproval here, for the reason that no one believes that anything like the kind of terms that England will
demand will be met now.
As a matter of fact, there is no feeling whatever, excepting
among a very small circle, for anything out of the war excepting a permanent settlement, evacuation, and indemnity
to Belgium; but no one believes that Germany is ready for
such terms.
Germany, on the other hand, is now controlled almost
wholly by the militarists. There is a peace party there as
there is here, and both, strangely enough, are conducting the
civil Governments. Those here are much more powerful to
act than those in Germany, where I believe they have but
little power. As long as the military forces of Germany are
successful as now, the militarists will not permit any suggestion of peace....
I am formulating in my own mind, and am unravelling it
from time to time to Grey and others in authority, to see
how far it is feasible, a plan for a general convention of all
neutral and belligerent nations of the world, at which you
will be called upon to preside and which should be called
upon your invitation.
It could meet concurrently with the peace conference, or,
if peace is not in sight by August, it could then be called and
it might be used as-a medium of bringing about peace between the belligerents. This second convention, of course,
would not deal with any of the controversies between the
belligerents, but it would go into the rules of future warfare
and the rights of neutrals.
It would be of far-reaching consequence —more farreaching, in fact, than the peace conference itself....
Affectionately yours
E M. MHOUSE