South Bend news-times., 1915-06-18

ance of the war will be upon those
who make unreasonable demands.
What can be done by the advo-
Gates of peace
First: They can crytallize the
sentiment in favor of peace into a
coercive force for public opinion at
last controls the world. There is a
work which the neutral nations can
do: they can offer mediation, Jointly
or seveTally. it is not an act OF hos
tility but an act of friendship. The
Hague convention to which all the
governments are parties, expressly
declares that the offer of mediation
shall not be considered an unfriendly
act. The duty of offering mediation
may seem to rest primarily upon the
United States, the largest of the neu-
trail nations and the one most inti-
mately 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 Why
not stand at the door and knock as
we would at the door of a friend If
we felt that the friend was in need
and that we could render assistance?
Proposes Commission.
Second. The treaty in which they
Join should provide for investigation
by permanent international commits
sion of every dispute that may arise,
no matter what its character or ma
ture. The United States has already
made 80 treatries emb0dying this
principle and these 80 treaties link
our country To nearly three-quarters
Of all inhabitants OF the world. We
have such a treaty in force between
the United States and four OF the
countries now at war-Great Britain,
France. Russia and Italy. The prin-
ciplc OF this treaty has been accepted
by three other belligerents-Ge
Austria and Belgium-although treat
les with these nations have not yet
been negotiated.
These seven warning nations have
endorsed the principle embodied in
these treaties. namely. that there
shall be no declaration of war or COM
mencement OF hostilities until the sub
ject i'm dispute has been investigated
by an international commission Why
cannot they apply the principle as
between themselves What cause of
I tions can afford 10 commence shoot
ins AT each other before the cause is
7 Investigated
Provides Means of Peace.
ut viii be remembered that Servia
I had only "A hours i'm which 20 reply
and II viii also be remembered that
during this brief time the rulers OF
\ the old world endeavored 20 hnd a
means OF preventing war If they
I had only had some machinery which
\ they could have employed 10 avert
I war. how gladly would they have
/ availed themselves OF IT, The ma
/ chinery provided by treaty can be re-
sorted 10 With honor-yes. with honor
mo matter how high a sense OF honor
Y the nation has
Third While the period of in
vestigation provided for i'm our treat
\ les VIII go far toward preventing war
still even a Years deliberation does
not give complete protection. In or
I der 10 seoure the investigation OF al
/ questions without exceptions. il was
/ necessary 20 reserve TO the contract
3 ing parties liberty OF action at the
j conclusion OF the investigation. War
4 IS thus reduced from probability 20
i "a mere possibility and this is an i'm
measurable advance, but the assur-
I ance OF permanent peace canno. he
given until the desire for wa Is Grad
licated from the human hea-..~