It feared that, should the purpose become known, the British public and press would conclude that the Government had invited a peace discussion.

Had any such idea seized the popular mind in February and March, 1915, a scandal would have developed which would probably have caused the downfall of the Asquith Ministry.

"Don't fool yourself about peace," Page writes to his son Arthur, about this time.

"If any one should talk about peace, or doves, or ploughshares here, they'd shoot him." Colonel House reached London early in February and was soon in close consultation with the Prime Minister and Sir Edward Grey.

He made a great personal success; the British statesmen gained a high regard for his disinterestedness and his general desire to serve the cause of decency among nations; but he made little progress in his peace plans, simply because the facts were so discouraging and so impregnable.