New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-09
NOT TIME YET FOR PEACE
Proposals Now Current Not Appro.
pirate or Disinterested.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: We have been recently confronted By
two facts of supreme Importance to the In
mediate and to the future welfare OF tn
country. First, we cannot too emphstesl
dispute the inherent value Of our sofsDa
diplomatic victory in the matter OF the Ger
man submarine policy. However much We
may respect President Wilson, we csnno'
blind ourselves to the unhappy fact that e.
pediency rather than belated recognition q
the abstract morality of the case has been q
the bottom of this change Of front GermsF
had two policies to choose from and chos.
naturally enough, the one least dsadYann'
geous to herself.
We have absolutely no reason for assuming
that there has been any change of heart back
of the change Of policy. To believe as muei
is sheer, fatuous, maudlin folly. However me
physical aspects of this affair are changed the
spiritual aspects remain the same The ISSUE
can be clouded only at the peril Of hh
country's future welfare. We are to-day and
we must remain, sympathetic 70 the alleges
ideals for which France and England sr
fighting Ii those ideals can be proved ~
sincere, il will be time TO deny these eoah'
tries the larger portion of our trust. bs'
there is a graver matter even than this 70 "
considered At a time when German minlAH
success is apparently at its highest tensioI
at time when-on points the German ana
the Austrian nations have won this war, ~
front pages of our newspapers are devoted
the activities of the Roman Church on De-
half Of peace Surely there is a signihesne'
"a ar
fronted by two very important aspects Of ~
matter: Why are the Pope and certain PER
sons subordinate to the Pope featured dsV
by our newspapers? Why do we attach n'
greater significance to their doings and az.
ings than we should attach 10 the doings ha
sayings of Bishop Greer or Rabbi WISE
anybody else?
Granting that we do, granting that Wv
American people have acquired the unress0a'
ing habit of attributing a sort Of extrsora'
nary Importance to the influence Of the ~
man Church as distinct from other ~
fuences, let us at least seriously scruuhN'
this influence lest IL contain motives o. :
kind Interior and injurious TO an equl's0'
dispensation of international justice.
We indct no individual persons honesu.
but we do most emphatcally MAINTAIN "s'
the interests of the Vatican are almost e.
elusively centred in the fortunes OF Ausu
and Germany 1t is difficult to believe 70"
Rome's activities on behalf of peace are o'n'.
than evidences of growing anxiety over -.
welfare of two of the contestants in the We.
at the expense of the others. IL IS 70
hoped that our President will avoid entshs'V
ment with an influence alien both to the -.
terests of this country and the interests o.
valid peace.
This war ought to continue-must eohpps
| If it is not, in some near future, TO be ioes1.
all over again at an even more stupehsS.
and agonzing cost. In its ultimate ans''y,
| it is a spiritual conflict. In the opinion
some people America has not grssPea ~
pre- eminent significance of the issues
not improbable that sooner or lster'
sword will be forced into her unwilling -
unpractised hand. 70
In the meanwhile one thing is clear :.
America helps, however well mesningV, -.
precipitate a premature peace; II she i',
victim TO the insidious attempts mace 81.
blind her to the legitimate and lne'Hsl
issues of this war; she will have P,v'.
traitor to herself and TO her people. ih.
fore, she must not, she cannot, allow he''
to work with and to be influenced py -.
power ostensbly disinterested and sl'r'''"'
but inherently partial and political. 81,
CHARLES L. BUCHANAN ,
New York Sept. 8, 1915.