Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-25
HOPE .QU|CKENED
FOR EARLY PEACE
Rumored That Negotiations Are
Far Along Between Ger
many and Russia.
STORY GIVEN PLAUSIBILITY
Washington Displays Almost
Feverish Interest in Diplo-
matte Struggle.
STORY GIVEN PLAUSlBILlTY
by JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.

'S ~ 'h' ar VI feace on carth. SOOu
viii TO men," pulses the capital city
To-Day with the universal aspiration
toward peace in Europe. The notable
story OF the overtures far advanced
between Russia and Germany, with the
plausible reasons given for ii and the
apparently reputable foundation on
which II rests. has quickened the hope
ana interest of leading people in Wash
ington to an almost feverish eagerness.
Here is a symposium OF interviews with
some OF the great diplomats, publicists
and orld-thinkcrs who remain in
Washington for the holidays:
REPORT IS FULL OF
DEEP SIGNIFICANCE
r When requested to express his
views as TO the report that q tentative
peace negotiation is now progressing
between Germany and Russia. uannis
Taylor. the great lawyer, said that
the summary of interests and motives
appended to the report is full of deep
siGnlncance. No one who studies the
diplomacy of Europe can doubt" Mr.
Taylor said, that Russia holds the
key to the situation: that the success
or failure Of the allies is largely in
her hands. The two greatest factors
in the problem are the millions of SOL
dicrs that Russia can push against the
eastern frontiers of Germany and Aus
tria and the sea power OF Great Britain
In the west, which. despite n few un-
important reverses, commands and su i.
pervises to-day the ocean traffic of the
world. Ever since Great Britain and
France bottled Russia up by the treaty
OIL iso6 that closed the Crimean War.
undertaken by the two powers first
named to preserve the balance of
power In Eastern Europe, and, incl
dentally. To vest in the European con-
cert the protection of the Christian
peoples subject to Turkeys assured
rzt
alone, the Slavic colossus has been
waiting for an opportunity to carry
out his plans for the dismembcrment
OF Turkey and the capture of Con-
stantinople.
THE two great humiliations to which
Russia was subjected in 1856 consisted
OF the forced surrender OF her protec-
torate over the eastern Christians, and
of the abrogation tof her right to keen
war vessels in the Rlack Sea and to
maintain naval arsenals on it's coasts,
When the first opportunity came in
1870. Russia gave notice that it was
impossible for her longer to be bound
either By the Objectionable articles Of
the treaty OF 1856, or BY the convention
OF the straits, really a part Of It, In
the conference held at London in jan
uary. 1871, Russia gained all that she
then demanded. Articles IL. l3 and IA
OF the treaty of Paris were annulled
full sovereignty over the Black Sea
and its coasts, subject TO the right of
the sultan TO invite into the straits at
any moment such powers as may he
willing TO join with him in order TO
check any naval aggression Russia may
make. But in 1870 Russia thus gained
less than half n loaf. The question
now is. will her position at the pres
cnt enable her to gain the other half
Germany, as the virtual governor OF
Turkey, occupies diplomatic position
of the first Importance, and that advan-
tage has been somewhat increased by
Great Britains final and inevitable act
in completing her sovereignty over
Egypt.
DESPERATE DIPLOMATIC
STRUGGLE UNDER WAY
I'm view OF these conditions, IL is
hard TO doubt that desperate diplo-
matte struggle is now going on behind
the curtain between Germany and
Great Britain for the final possession
of the influence of Russia. Her states
men. who are not as rule sentimental,
cannot for a moment forget that it Is
their duty to open up warm water
ports as soon as possible for more than
l6O,O00,000 people, who have been most
unjustly excluded from them. In my
humble opinion. the solution OF that
question Is the one that will stand in
the foreground when the time for
settlement comes. Russia's final al
legiance will belong to the power or
powers that can do most to realize
the one dream upon which her future
largely depends. Until that question
is settled there can hardly be re-
establishment of the peace OF Eu-
rope. TO matter what Germany might
do to induce Turkey to cOncede to
Russia i'm the Black Sea and I'm the
straits. II the sea power of Great
Britain backed UP by that OF Italy In
the Mediterranean. as II surely would
be, was hostile, any concession that
Germany and Turkey might make to
Russia might bring her but little re-
lief"
Oscar Underwood. the Democratic
House leader. soon to be Senator,
and representative statesman, said:
There is no greater blessing that
could come to our people in the COM
ing year than universal peace through
out the world.
There is no wish for the future, the
fulflment of which would bring more
JOY and prosperity to our land, than
that the contending forces on battle
fields of Europe may find Il way to rec
oncile their differences and end the
strife of to-day by compacts for peace
tomorrow.
1T looks as If the armies contend
ing In the field We're deadlocked, and
that 70 continue the struggle would
only mean tremendous sacrifice of
life and destruction of property 1t
mus; be that the powers that have di-
recied the fight SO far will realize this
ere long and conclude to settle their
differences by arbitration. rather than
continue the bloody strife
Il have an abiding hope and faith be-
fore the new year runs to an end, that
tho world may sca In fact that there
is peace on earth and good will to
mer."
CLARK SEES NO HOPE
FOR PEACE IN NEAR FUTURE
Champ Clark, Speaker Of the House.
said: when the great transatlantic
war was begun, / did not believe that
It would last three weeks. did not be-
lieve that little Servia could very long
resist the assaults OF q great empire
like that of Austria. or course. at that
time had no idea that 1t was n world
conflagration. but after more than four
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