The Washington herald., 1915-12-26
LOOKS To PRESS
TO URGE PEACE
German Editor Says Neutral
Newspapers Must Take
First Step.
SEEKS A "STRONG MAN"
Roosevelt Might Have Done. Says
August Singer. But-Believes
Wilson lmpractieable.

Vienna, Dec. 3.-I have Just met the
president OF the International Press As
sociation. Herr August Singer, editor Of
the "Neues Wiener Tageblatt." who was
the first journalist In the central empires
to dare mention peace in his paper.
When asked him why he took this bold
stand. he smiled and said:
"It does not really take a great deal
of courage to talk peace here. We are
not in Prussia. you must remember.
Everybody In Austria. as well as In Ger
many. wishes peace, except the generals
and the diplomatists, and lately even
these, as far as Austria Is concerned.
want peace.
Believes In Press.
II believe in the power Of the unmuz-
zled press. The time has come for US to
show that the pen Is mightier than the
sword. The international press must heal
the wounds of hatred and make peace
possible. Journalists Of the belligerent
countries, nearly all members Of the In
ternational Press Association. were old
friends before the war, but are now
forced by circumstances to slander and
denounce one another. Neutral Journal
lists have a great. an admirable task.
You must compel US to stop. The hrst
condition Of peace Is that peace be es-
tablished in the press.
1T is your duty as neutral journalists
to find somewhere In the neutral world a
powerful personality to bring us to-
gether. The Pope has tried to act as
mediator and has failed. but nobody thinks
any less Of him for that, and we all honor
him for his good Intentions Now some
neutral statesman or scientist must Try
There are three powerful reasons why he
should succeed-hrst. because he Is neu-
tral; second. because he Is doing an act
of humanity: third. because all the world
is signing for peace.
This man must invite delegates from
the press Of the various countries TO a
private conference on neutral soil. Fer
haps he might begin with few. listen
to their advice. and then gradually call
In more delegates until every paper OF
Importance IL represented. These dele
gates must then confer with their gov
and at last We all adopt
common platform rs q basis for peace"
Not . woman's Work.
"Perhaps King Alfonso Of Spain might
be prevailed on to call such a meeting"
I suggested.
Singer shook his head.
Spain Ii too secluded. We cannot get
there"
Queen wilhelmina OF Holland, then"
81 do not believe In a woman taking
the initiative In this cause. Whoever
does so must be a powerful personality.
a man in the fullest sense OF the word
Your Roosevelt might have done 1t. but.
alas. I am afraid he Is too pre1udiced
gainst our side 1t il unfortunate. in
deed. that you have not President of
the Roosevelt type at the White House
! do not want you to take this as a
slight to President Wilson. for whom I
have the greatest respect He has shown
himself to possess the true neutral spirit.
but he L. a little too academic-I mean
not practical enough.
But II q man can be found to estab-
lish peace among the newspapers. peace
among the countries will soon follow.
and the entire world will hail him as a
deliverer."