Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-06-18
MEDIATION To END
WAR, BRYAN PLAN
says the Duty OF Making Overtures
Rests Upon the United States
Government

Washington. d. C.. June 1S.-Former
Secretary OF State William Jennings
Bryan IN the third and concluding sec
ton OF his statement on the causeless
war" issued today. suggests mediation
as ~the way out" AS a preventative OF
war. Mr.. Bryan proposes universal ex-
tension OF his investigating commits
sion peace treaty plan.
Mediation. the former secretary
says. lis the means. provided by inter-
national agreement. through which the
bcIIiEerent nations can be brought into
conference: time FOR investigation OF
all disputes Is the means by which
future wars can be avoided. and the
cultivation OF international friendship
Is the means BY which the desire for
war can be rooted out"
In celebrating his plan for restora-
ton OF peace. Air. Bryan urges:
That neutral nations in advocating
crystalline sentiment in favor OF peace
into a coercive force and offer media
ton Jointly or severally. that the war
ring nations Join in a treaty 10 provide
for investigation. by G permanent in
ternationaI commission OF every dis
pute that may arise. no matter what
its character. or nature" and that a
worldwide educational movement 10
cultivate a spirit OF brotherhood among
the nations be undertaken as the final
task OF the advocates OF peace.
Great nations cannot be eNtermi-
mated" says Mr.. Bryan Predictions |
made az the beginning OF the war have
not been fulfilled. The British did not
destroy the German feet in month. (
Germany did not take Paris in two
months. and the Russian army did not
eat Christmas dinner in Berlin. But
even II determination were possible, II
would be a crime against civilization |
which no nation or group OF nations l
could aford 10 commit"
Mr.. Bryan continues.
When can peace be restored? Any |
time now. II the participants are really |
weary OF this war and ready for II 10 /
end. II any nation is not ready, let its |
ruler state in clear. distinct and def I
mite terms the conditions on which il /
Is willing 10 agree 20 peace; then IL an I
agreement is not reached, blame for !
Of the war Will be on those |
who make unusual demands"
points out that the Hague /
expressly declares an Of
fer OF mediation shall not be consid-
cred an unfriendly act. and adds:
The duty OF Offering mediation may
seem 10 rest primarily on the United
States. the largest of the neutral ma
tons. and the one most intimately
bound by ties OF blood to all the bellig-
erents. The United States did make
an offer Immediately after the war be-
gan. but why no again and again until
our offer or some other offer is accept
ed But our action OF failure to act
need not deter any other neutral ma
ton from acting. This is not time to
stand on ceremony; If any other coun-
Try, for any reason-no matter what
The reason may be-is in a better posi-
ton than we 10 tender its good Offices
L should not delay a moment"
To assure permanent peace Mr..
Bryan urges that his plan of investi-
cation treaties be adopted by the
warning nations
"a treaty such as those which now
protect the peace OF the United States"
he says. would give a years time for
and report and who
doubts that 4 years time would be
sufficient 10 reach an amicable solu-
ion OF almost every difficulty. Does
anyone suppose that the present war
would have been begun II q years
ine had been taken TO investigate the
dispute between Austria and Servia?"
Veterans OF the Confederacy. many
u whom had not seen the city since