The Washington times., 1915-06-18
BRYAN URGES US. TO
; PRESS PEACE OFFER
Former Premier Advocates Mod
GRAFTON, Arbitration, and Ed
ucation as Remedy.

Causeless War" and Is one Of the most
lengthy documents he has issued since
his retirement from the Cabinet. To-
days statement closes the considera-
ton Of this subject.
Mr.. Bryan divides his remedy" like
his whole discussion, into three parts.
He advises. as the first step, joint and
several offers of mediation by the
United States and other neutrals. This
offer. he says. should be made time after
time. until some one accedes to the sug-
Sestion.
Next. Mr.. Bryan urges the utilization
Of the Bryan peace treaty plan-one
years investigation Of international dis
putes Of any and all kinds-which would
allow passion to subside and reason to
resume sway
process. and the most important step in
wiptng out war forever, he suggests a
worldwide campaign Of peace educa-
tion. 'the cultivation Of the spirit Of
brotherhood condensed into the COM
mandment: Thou shalt love thy neigh
Dor as thyself'"
Incidentally, Mr.. Bryan steps aside to
state that neither side possibly can
annihilate the other. Great nations"
he declares. cannot be exterminated.
Populations cannot be wiped out by the
sword"
The former premier says he believes
that peace can be restored at any time,
II the participants are really weary of
this war and ready for its end. Then
he outlines what can be done by N,e
advocates of peace toward bringing
about not only the close OF the present
great war. but the elimination Of armed
conflict and its relegaion into the limbo
Of obscurity.
Bryan's Way Out.
The statement, in part, follows:
Having considered the war as II Is
and the injury 1t does neutrals. and
then the origin Of the war and the
causes which led up to 1t. we are now
ready to make inquiry as to the way
out. that is, the means by which hos
tilities can be brought to an end and
permanent peace restored. To state in
shall proceed to elaborate: mediation Is
the means, provided by International
agreement. through which the bellig
erent nations can be brought into con-
all disputes is the means by which
future wars can be averted and the
cultivation of International friendship
is the means by which the desire for
nations fighting about% No one seems to
know, or If anyone does know he has
not taken the public into his conf
dence.
Question That Shakes Thrones.
When the President offered mediation
At the very beginning of the struggle the
answers which he received from tho
various rulers were SO much alike that
ono telegram might have served for all.
The substance of each answer was, 7
did not want war. and I am not to
oiame for the war that now exists We
may accept their answers as given in
good faith. But the important question
Is still unanswered. I did not want
war may have been deemed sufficient
at the time the answers were gwen, but
the real question Is do you want war
now?
Some day accumulated suffering will
reach its limit; some day the pent up
voice. Then. If not before. the rulers
of the war zone will pause to listen to
the stern question. Why do we die -
tho question which shakes thrones ard
? bitrary power.
And is not the outside world entitled
to know the price Of peace? Must the
neutrals bear the penalties which war
necessarily visits upon them and yet
remain in ignorance as to the issues at
stalker
Con Restore Peace Now.
when can peace be restored? Any
time-now. If the participants really are
weary oi tHis war ana ready 1or II
to end
what can be done by the advocates
"First-They can crystalline the senti-
ment in favor of peace into a coercive
force. There is a work which the neu-
trail nations can do; they can offer
mediation. Jointly or severally The
Hague convention. to which all the
governments are parties, expressly de-
clares that the offer of mediation shall
Ypfr ri
The duty of offering mediation may
seem to rest primarily upon the United
states. the largest of the neutral ma
tions and the one most Intimately bound
by ties Of blood to all the belligerents
The United states did make an offer
Immediately after the war began, but
why not again and again and again,
until our offer or some other offer is
accepted?
But our action or failure to act need
not deter any other neutral country
from acting. This is not a time to stand
on ceremony; II any other country. for
any reason-no matter what that reason
may be-is in better position than
we to tender its good Offices. 1t should
not delay for a moment
Urges Arbitration.
''Will they (the belligerents) object on
the ground that they will not consent
to any peace until they have assurances
that It will be a permanent neaceo ri
Tear that the peace may not be perma-
nent Is given as the reason for refusal,
II Is not a sufficient reason. While no
one can stand surety for what may
come, It is not difficult to adopt meas
ures which will give far greater assur-
anoe OF permanent peace than the world
has ever known before.
'Sccond-The treaty in which thay
join should provide for Investigation by
a permanent international commission
OF every dispute that may arise. no mat
ter what Its character or nature. The
United States has already made thirty
treaties embodying this principle and
these thirty treaties link our country to
nearly three-Quarters of all the in
habitsnts OF the world.
What cause of war Is OF such mag
nitude that nations can afford to com
mence at each other before the cause Is
Investigated A treaty such as those
which now protect the peace OF the
United States would give a years time
for Investigation and report. and who
doubts that years time would he suf-
fictcnt 70 reach an amicable solution OF
dirtS>rty? Does anyone suppose that
the present war would have been begun
II years time had been taken 10 in
vestigate the dispute between Austria
and Servia?
No Machinery For Peace.