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Show HENRY VAN DYKE BACK FROM HAGUE Ambassador to Netherlands Has Strenuous Time in the Dutch Capital. WORKS DAY AND NIGHT Respects Instructions Not to Talk But Expresses Hope for a Lasting Peace. New York. Nov. 24. Henry Yan Dyke, American minister to The Neth-I Neth-I erlands reached here today from The j Hague aboard the steamship Rotter-I Rotter-I dam. The suggestion published originally orig-inally in Amsterdam, that the time was ripe for the United States and The Netherlands to act in concert to bring about peace in Europe, was brought to his attention He refused to comment on It-He It-He was asked if the report were true that he was the bearer of the suggestion, looking toward such action ac-tion from the government of Holland to the United States To this also he declined to reply. Mr. Van Dyke seemed to be thoroughly thor-oughly conversant, however, with the BUggestlpn and the report. Apparently he anticipated being questioned by reporters on this subject, for when they boarded the ship at Quarantine and -ought him out he had ready for them a statement which he had prepared pre-pared in advance. This statement read as follows: Ambassador's Statement. An ambassador's first duty is to bis chief; and I am compelled to respect re-spect my instructions not to talk For the past four months I have been having a strenuous time My ers have given way under the strain of day and night work, ami 1 have obtained a leave of absence to come home and see my oculist. s soon as my eyes are patched up I hope to return to my post and continue working work-ing for my country and for the cause of peace In the spirit of our president pres-ident B declarations " Several interviewers attempted to question Mr. Van Dvko, but raising his hand In a gesture which forbade them to pursue the inquiry, he said: "Not another word; that is all. If I am given permission to talk. I will do so; until then 1 can say nothing" Hopes for Lasting Peace Then after an interval of silence be added "When the madness that begun this war has spent Itself, I hope that America will have a great part to play In the reptoration of a lasting peace, wherein all the people of the world great and small, shall rejoice together. Then the nightmare of blood will be over and the palace of peace will have its opportunity " Holland's Kindness Beyond Praise. The position of Holland, Dr. Van Dyke ,-aid, had been unchanged; it was "still neutral firm and friendly friend-ly Holland's kindness to the destitute desti-tute of Belgium, he said, was beyond praise. 'W hat about the standing of America Amer-ica in the eyes of Europe?" he was asked "With all reasonable people, I believe, be-lieve, that it Is better than ever" he said "The warring nations trust! us to be fair, and they know that we will be generous to help In the' spirit of humanity. The work that the American commission for relief in Belgium Is doing to save the women and children from famine, is proof of this." |
