New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-19
Peace Talk and the Objects Which
Peace Should Accomplish.

do whatever 1t can to promote exchanges OF views
which may lead to the discussion Of peace terms
The whole world has suffered from the vast
economic waste Of the European war. IL Will
continue to suffer, since the machinery OF e1'
change is now worldwide and no country now
ever favored by position, can escape paying
share NJ the wars cost On grounds Of humanity
rs we'll as Of selfinterest the United States must
do everything practicable to encourage the COM
nstants 70 settle their differences and lay down
their arms.
The suggestion made to Herr Won Bethmann-
Hollweg through Ambassador Gerard that Ger
MANY indicate the terms of peace acceptable to
the Dual Alliance may not produce results at
once Germany naturally does not want to dis
close her views before getting some idea OF the
basis on which the powers Of the Triple Entente
are ready to treat. France, Great Britain and
Russia have recently signed an agreement to act
as unit in presenting terms of peace, and they
are also morally bound to look after the interests
OF Belgium, servia and Montenegro. An agree-
ment affecting so many principals will not be
easy to reach, unless one side or the other is
thoroughly weary Of the sacrifices of war and is
ready to purchase peace by ample concessions.
At the present stage of the fighting neither side
is ready to admit defeat, Conceding deadlock
and grounding arms without prejudice to either
combination would be about the only logical peace
settlement now in sight But no lasting or salts
factory results would come out of mere cessation
Of hostiIities and restoration Of the status quo
ante. That would mean only truce, involving
both sides in another mad struggle for military
superiority,
The world needs more than anything else
relief from the present excuses of miitarism.
The European war will have done civilization
some service if it puts an end to the idea that
preot nation must 90 armed to the teeth and de-
pend on the arts of war for its existence and prog
ress Prussia has been the chief exponent in
modern Europe Of the militaristic theory, and
after 1870 Prussa's "blood and iron" policy was
unfortunately imposed on the German Empire,
Everything else in Germany has been sacrificed to
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the military caste and the
emnire has been turned into q vast military camp
so that at critical moments in European diplomacy
the Kaiser might appear 'fn shining armor.' These
appearances got on the nerves Of the other Euro
mean powers France was the victim of one-in
the first Morocco dispute-and Russia Of another
at the time of Austria Hungarys annexation Of
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Triple Entente was
a defensive alliance formed to head of Germany
military aggressiveness, and it's true object will
not be obtained If it does not now compel Ger
many to guarantee European peace by ceaslng to
rattle the sword in tAe scabbari and thus relieving
the rest of Europe of the crushing strain of coun-
ter preparation.
Germany should also be made to pay for her
brutal disregard of international treaties She
backed Austria Hungary in violating the Treaty of
Berlin by annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Europe could not compel reckoning then, but she
ought to compel it now. Worse than that the
Kaiser repudiated Prussia's pledge TO maintain
the neutrality of Belgium and broke faith with all
the other nations which had Joined with Prussia
in guaranteeing BelCum's territorial integrity and
independence That ruthless defiance Of treaty
rights and international law followed by bar
barous warfare on the people of Belgium, must be
atoned for if the world is to get forward on the
path of fairness and honor in international deal.
ings The invasion Of Belgium was as great a
crime as the devastation Of the Palatinate by
Louis XIV, also ordered "for military reasons"
The righteous judgment of the civilized world will
therefore not be satisfied unless Germany pays in
full for her outrageous treatment Of Belgium
The military situation is probably now as favor
able to Germany as It ever will be- and, according
to Ambassador Bernstorn, the Kaiser is not dis
posed to yield a square inch Of German territory,
either European or colonial But settlement on
that basis would settle nothing, and the Allies will
be justified in fighting on until Germany realizes
that she must make substantial compensation for
the havoc she has caused. The more the war goes
against her the larger the cessons will have to be-
II seems pretty certain that II the Allies win Al
SAGE and Lorraine will be returned to France