The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-18
Only Hope Lies, in Conference
of BelIigerents.
time To HEAL ALL WOUNDS
Neutrals Must Crystalline Sem
timent i'm Coercive Force.
Secretary in Final States
ment on "CauseIess War;"

Washington, June 1S.-Former Sec
retary of State w. J. Bryan, in the
third and concluding section of his
statement on 1.-The Causeless War"
issued today. suggests mediation as
the way out" AS preventive OF
war, Mr.. Bryan proposes universal ex-
tension of his investigation commits
sion peace treaty plan.
Mediation, the former secretary
says, "ls the means provided by inter
national agreement through which the
belligerent nations can be brought into
conference; time for investigation of
all disputes is the means by which fu-
ture wars can be averted, and the cul-
tivation of international friendship is
the means by which the desires for
war can be rooted out"
A Coercive Force.
In celebrating his plan for restora-
ton of peace. Mr.. Bryan urges;
That neutral nations, in advo-
eating peace, crystalline sentiment
in favor of peace into a coercive
force, and offer mediation jointly
or severally.
That the warning nations join
in a treaty to provide for investi-
cation by a permanent interna-
tional commission of every dispute
that may arise, no matter what its
character or nature.
That a worldwide educational
movement to cultivate a spirit of
brotherhood among the nations be
undertaken as the final task of
advocates of peace.
determination Impossible.
"Great nations cannot be exter-
minated" says Mr.. Bryan. "Predic-
tions made at the beginning of the
war have not been fulfilled. The Brit
ish did not destroy the German fleet
in MONTH; Germany did not take
Paris in two months; and the Russian
army did not eat Christmas dinner in
Berlin.
possible, it would be a crime against
civilization, which no nation or group
of nations could afford to commit"
Peace When Ready.
Mr.. Bryan continues:
when can peace be restored? Any
time now, if the participants are really
weary of this war and ready for it to
end. If any nation is not ready, let
its ruler state in clear, distinct and
definite terms the conditions upon
which it is willing to agree to peace;
then if an agreement is not reached,
blame for continuance of the war will
be upon those who make unusual de-
mands.'
In proposing mediation, the former
secretary points out that The Hague
convention expressly declares an Of
fer of mediation shall not be consid-
cred an unfriendly act and adds:
No Time for Ceremony.
THE duty of offering mediation
United States, the largest neutral ma
tion and the one most Intimately
bound by ties of blood to all the bel
ligerents. The United States did make
an offer Immediately after the war
began, but why not again and again.
until our offer or some other offer is
accepted?
But our action or failure need not
deter any other neutral nation from
acting. This not time to stand on
ceremony. If any other country for
any reason, no matter what the rea-
son may be, is in a better position than
we to tender its good offices, it should
not delay a moment"
To assure permanent peace, Mr..
Bryan urges that his plan of investiga-
tion treaties be adopted by the war
ring nations.
A treaty such as those which now
protect the peace of the United States,
he says, would give a years time for
investigation and report; and who
doubts a years time would be suff1-
cient to reach amicable solution of
almost every difficulty? Does any one
suppose that the present war would
have been begun if years time had
been taken to investigate the dispute
between Austria and Serbia ?"