The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-19

who make unreasonable demands.
Ways Open to Peace Advocates.
What can be done by the advocates
of peace?
First. They can crystalize the SEN
timent in favor of peace into a coer-
Give force, for public opinion at last
controls the world. There is O work
which the neutral nations can do;
they can offer mediation, jointly or
severally. 1t is not an act of hostil-
ity. 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 unfriendry
act. The duty of offering mediation
may seem to rest primarily upon the
United Gates, the largest of the neu-
trail nations and the one most in
timately bound bs 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 felt that the friend was in need
and that We could render a service?
But our action or failure to act
need not deter any other neutral
country from acting. This is not a
time to stand on ceremony; II any
other country, for any reason. no
matter what that reason may be, is
in a better position than we to tender
its good Offices. 1t should not delay
for a moment 1t Is for the belliger-
ents to decide which offer, II any. they
will accept. / am sure they will not
complain II. following the promptings
of our hearts, we beseech them to let
us help them back TO the. paths of
peace.
viii they object on the ground
that they will not consent to any
peace until they have assurances that
| 1t will be a permanent peace? That
suggestion has been made-I think
both sides have expressed a desire
that the peace, when secured, shall
be permanent-but who can give a
pledge as to the future? If fear that
the peace may not he permanent is
given as the reason for refusal II Is
not sufficient reason. While no one
can stand surety for what may come
| 1t is not difficult to adopt measures
which will give far greater assurance
of permanent peace than the world
! has ever known before.
| Terms Which Should BE Imposed.
Second, the treaty in which they
Join should provide for investigation
1 by a permanent international COM
mission of every dispute that may
arise, no matter what its character or
| nature. The United States has al.
ready made thirty treaties embodyinA
this principle. and these thirty treaties
link our country to nearly three
quarters Of all the inha bitants of the
world. We have such realty in force
| between the United States and four
of the countries now at war-Great
Britain. France, Russia and Italy
The principle of this treaty has been
accepted by three other beIligerents-
Germany, Austria and Belgium-al.
though treaties 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 commence
ment of hostilities until the subject
In dispute has been investigated by
an international commission. Why
can they not apply the principle as
between themselves? What cause OF
war Is OF such magnitude that nations
can afford to commence shooting at
each ether before the cause Is investf-
gated?
"A treaty such as those which now
protect the peace of the United
States would give a years time for
| investigation and report, and who