South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-23
CONFERENCE OF NEUTRALs.


What will the United states do with
the proposal for continuance confer
ence Of neutral powers as medium
for settling the ware This is he
latest diplomatic problem taken up by
Pres't Wilson The United states has
been given the final determination as
10 whether this means looking toward
peace will be undertaken. The presi-
dent and Sec'y Lansing must speak
for this country.
The president has received the Off
cial report and appeal Of the women's
committee which went abroad 10 see
what could be done toward bringing
about a permanent peace. The state
ment is signed by Jane Adams CO.
s., Emily Balch (U. s., Rosika
Schwimmer (Austro-Hungary) Crys-
tai Mcmillan Great Brittany, and
Aletta Jacobs (Holland). The report
presented is that of the committee au-
thorized at the Women's Peace con-
ference held at The Hague last spring.
The committee reports that they
visited all the neutral nations of Eu-
rope as well as those engaged in war.
Its members saw the prime minister
and the foreign minister in ali of these
countries. The result Of their mission
IS contained in this remarkable state
ment:
our visits to the war capitals
convinces MS that the belligerent
governments would not be op-
posed to a conference of neutral
nations; that while the bellger-
ents have rejected offers OF medi-
aticu by single neutral nations
and while no belligerent could
ask for mediation, the creation Of
a continuous conference of neutral
nations might provide the ma
chinery which would lead TO
peace We found the neutrals, on
the other hand, were concerned
lest calling such a conference
might be considered inOpportune
bv one or the other Of the bellig-
ants Here our information from
the belligerents themselves gave
assurance that such initiative
would not be resented. My coun-
try would not find anything un-
friendly in such action by the
neutrals." was the assurance given
lis bv the foreign minister OF one
OF the great belligerents. "My
government would place no OBJ
stacle in the way of its institu-
ton" said the minister of an OPP
posing nation. What are the
neutrals waiting for?' asked a
third whose name ranks high
not only in his own country but
all over the world.
These foreign ministers, though not
named in the report. are unquestion-
ably the foreign ministers of England
Germany and France The statement
goes on to say that the proposal was
welcomed i'm the foreign offices of all
the neutral powers. but the latter
unanimously declined TO act except on
the initiative Of the United States. If
this republic will take the lead, they
said. they would be very glad to join.
The statement continues:
We have been convinced that
the governments Of the belligerent
nations would not be hostile To the
institution of such a common
channel for good offices and that
the governments of the European
neutraIs we visited stand ready to
cooperate with others in media
ton Reviewing the situation,
we believe that OF the five Euro
mean neutral nations visited. three
are ready To join in such a con-
ference and that two are delib-
Grating the calling of such a con-
ference. OF the intention of the
United States we have as yet no
evidence.
And then the statement concludes
after this fashion. which is significant
indeed:
The excruciating burden of re-
possibility for the hopeless con-
tinuance of this war no longer
rests on the will Of the helligerent
nations alone lit rests also on the
will OF those neutral governments
and people who have been sup
porting its shock and cannot II
they would absolVe themselves
for their full share of the respon-
sibiHty for the continuance OF the
war.
The proposal presented by the WON
ems committee has nothing 10 do Will
mediation such as was first suggested
and was resented by the belligerents
notably the British. This plan
merely for the creation of a confer
eace OF neutrals TO be medium 70
the exchange OF views such as Nigh
work out in an eventual ending of nos
tiIities At the worst the plan offend
no one and can do no harm: and Their
Is apparently no reason why il shoul
not receive the serious considerable
OF the president and of the country.
THE DODO COMES BACK.
The New York Museum OF Natura
Il ID.