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

CHAPTER XII
A QUEST FOR PEACE
If every belligerent nation had a Sir Edward Grey at the head of its
affairs, there would be no war...
Extract from Diary of Colonel house, February 7, 1915
I
ON January 30, 1915, Colonel House 'sailed from New York
upon the Lusitania. It was one of the last of her voyages.
For House it was one of the first of the adventurous missions
in which he attempted to translate into fact his doctrine that
a new code of international ethics must be impressed upon
the nations by demanding from Governments the same
standard of morals as that which applies to individuals.
This doctrine had proved the soul of his first mission of the
year before, the Great Adventure, when he tried to bring
about an understanding between the European states which
would prevent the war he foresaw. He kept it constantly in
mind as he approached the war zone in this attempt to discover some means by which a path to peace could be blazed
and bases of permanent peace be laid.
House left with no trace of overconfidence. The emotions
aroused in Europe were of such intensity that no wellinformed person could be hopeful of finding a pacific opening; and the Colonel was extremely well-informed. The
complexities were such that the least gaucherie would produce an 'incident' that might not merely ruin the influence
of the United States, but even endanger her friendly relations
with a belligerent Power. For this reason, if for no other, the
mission must be unofficial. Mr. Bryan had told the Colonel
that he was the one best fitted for the task. 'I hope he may
be right,' wrote House, 'for I am leaving with much trepidation. The undertaking is so great, and the difficulties are so
many, that to do it alone and practically without consulta