The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-24
Alfonso of Spain, Haakon of Norway and Swedish For
 eign Minister Leaders
LITTLE CHANGE FOR
 THE UNITED STATES
Do Not Think America Will Be Per. mitted to Play Any Part in Pour parlers on Account of Munitions
 Sale and Submarine Quarrel
By F. l.. HUTkAMP

Two European Kings, and no man knows how many European statesmen. are competing for the glory of putting an end to the greatest war in history. They want to bring the belligerents to- gether; to do what Roosevelt did for Russia and Japan; and to have their busts set up in The Hague peace pal ace as benefactors of mankind The time, they think, is nigh. All the 10 fighting powers vehemently protest that they do not dream of peace. When such protests begin, it is plain sign someone wants peace. So it was with Count Witte when he went to Ports- mouch, proclaiming by wireless all the way across the Atlantic that he had not come to negotiate-Russia would not think of negotiatng-but he had come only to have friendly chat with the Japanese adversary. Chan cellor Bethmann Hollweg has denied to the world through his official North German Gazette" the story that Ger many twice offered Russia peace he declares that Germany would not off- hand reject all peace proposals, but he adds that she will make none. Rus sias new minister of war. Polivanon, affirms that Russia will not make peace while one enemy remains on Russian soil; and Frances premier Niviani, says every week that France will not make peace until she regains Alsace- Lorraine. All these protests make no impression on those who realize that peace is dictated by facts and neces- sities, not by programmes. And the sovereigns and statesmen who are competing for glory as chief peace angel are well aware of that.
 King Alfonso of Spain, King Haakon of Norway, and Foreign Minister Wal lenberg of Sweden are the three men who have most chance of winning the rank of peace angel and the bust In The Hague peace palace. They belong to the only countries in Europe which have any chance of getting hearing from both sides. Not every man can be a peace angel A peace angel must not belong to any of the uncertain states" which are politically interested in the result of the war and are wait ing to see how the cat jumps before themselves joining in the fray No bel ligerent would listen to the mediation of the King of Roumania, the King of Bulgaria, or the King of Greece The peace angel must not come from state which is intimately tied with either side. Portugal as an ally of Great Britain is ruled out. The peace angel s country must not be strongly opposed to, or afraid of, any belligerent and that rules out Denmark and Holland, which both dread a German victory. The peace angel must not be liable to influence by any belligerent. That rules out the pope The pope could not insist on mediating if that was against the wish of Italy. Further, the pope cannot mediate effectively. because he has no city.
 United States Barred
 The mediator must be in the position Of Roosevelt 10 years ago. He must offer the negotiators hospitality in his own country, he may bring them to- gether; help through breakdowns, ana bring moral pressure to bear. If a mediator cannot do that, he risks fail ure of the negotiations, and loss of his chance to become peace angel German newspapers declare that President Will son is ruled out as peace angel, because of Germanys quarrel with the United States over the submarine war; and because of Americas supply of arms to the entente allis>. The Hamburger Nachrichten" warns Chancellor Beth mann Hollweg under no circumstances to give America the chance to influence the peace negotiations as she would if allowed to act as host of the peace negotiators." This reduces the possi- ble mediators to Spain, Norway and Sweden; and Europe's best judges think that the coming peace conference will be held in either Madrid. Christiania or Stockholm
 King Alfonso's ambition to bring about peace fills the Spanish press; and Spain expects the ambition to bear fruit. Alfonsos chance Is that Spain is the most essentially neutral state in Europe. In sentiment Spain is strongly divided and in politics it is indifferent. Spain's neutrality is not threatened by anyone; it has no ax to grind from either sides success; and neither side has any territory populated by Spaniards which it could offer as 2 bribe. In International politics Spair is less important power than Greece or Montenegro. Her sole war role is that her ambassadors share with the United States ambassadors the labor of representing the belligerent states in their enemies capitals. King Al fonso and his ministers realize Spain's privileged position; and Alfonso wantt to make use of 1t to Spain's and his own glory and profit.
 Alfonso's stimulus to action is thai he has grown up, and is now taking life seriously. He began to take life seriously after the war began The war stopped him going to England tt play polo and going to Paris to pla, the new card game "quipro," invented by the Duke of Alba. Want of amuse ment is forcing Alfonso to think ant work Alfonso remembers that Spair once ruled the world with the sword and he thinks that Spain might now rule with the olive branch and tn, scales of justice. Spains reputation would be vastly raised if she could bring the belligerents together. and Al fonso, tired of being regarded as ar overgrown sporting school boy, would blossom out into Europe's sage bene factor. And this prospect offers grown up Alfonso a new and worthier kind O sport
 Madrid's newspaper 'Epoca" givel intervene and will intervene. ''Ths peace of Madrid" it says. would b, the beginning of a new economic de velopment of Spain It would boon Spain. Spain badly wants booming The "Epoca" expert says that the peac conference will be the mightest show on earth since the bull fight organize, by King Philip on the eve of the dis patch of the great amada. The l belligerents' negotiations, counting dip lomatic, naval, military and commercial attaches, and servants and the newspa per men from bellfgerent and neutra states, will number at least 5000; ant the wives daughters. sweethearts, tour ists and curiosity mongers. will make another 2000.' Only city that can ac commodate 5000 visitors all of whom want first class accommodation car compete for the, job Portsmouth. New Hampshire, would hardly do, so the 5000 will have no chance to eat clans and be eaten by mosquitoes, as they had in 1905. Madrid is the biggest of