The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-23
MEDIATION BRYAN'S PLEA;
MAY END EUROPEAN WAR
Third and Concluding Statement Is
s;led by Former Secretary at
Washington Friday.

Former Secretary Bryan, in th'
third and concluding section of his
statement on the causeleSs war, IS
sued Friday, suggests mediation as
the 'way out" As preventative
of war, Mr.. Bryan proposes universe
extension of his Investigation com
mission peace treaty plan.
Mediation" the statement says
sis the means provided by the inter,
national agreement, through which
the belligerert nations can be
brought into conference; time fol
investigation of all disputes is the
means by which future wars can be
averted, and the cultivation of inter.
national friendship is the means by
which the desire for war can be root
ed OUT
In celebrating his plan for restora-
ton of peace, Mr.. Bryan urges that
neutral nations in advocating peace
crystalize sentiment in favor of peace
into a coercive force and offer medi-
alton Jointly or severally; that the
warning nations. join in a treaty to
provide for investigation "Dy q per-
manent international commission OF
every dispute that may arise, no mat
ter. what its character or nature
and that a worldwide educational
movement to cultivate a spirit OF
brotherhood among the nations be
undertaken as the final task OF the
advocates of pe2ce.
Great nations can not be exter-
minated" says Mr.. Bryan. Pre-
dictions made at the beginning of the
war have not been fulfilled. The
British did not destroy the German
fleet in month. Germany did not
take Paris in two months, and the
Russian army did not eat Christmas
dinner in, Berlin. But even if ex-
termination were possible, it would
be cline against civilization which
no nation or group Of nations could
afford to commit.
when can peace be restored? Any
time now, if the bcll;gerents are
really weary Of this war and ready
for it to eud If any nation is not
ready, let it's ruler state in clear,
distinct and definite terms the con-
Gitions upon which it is willing to
agree to peace; then, if an agree
ment is not reached, blame for con-
tinuance of the war will be upon
those who made unusual demands. :"
In proposing mediation the former
secretary points out that The Hague
Convention expressly declares an Of
fer of mediation shall not be consid-
cred an unfriendly act, and adds:
1.-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 wal tegan, but why not again and
again un;., our offer or some other
offer is accepted?
''But our action or failure to act
need not deter any other neutral ma
tion from acting. This is not time
to stand on ceremony: if any other
country, for any reason-no matter
what the reason may be-iS in bet
ter position than we to tender its
good Offices, it should not delay a
moment
"A treaty such as those which now
protect the peace of the United
States he says would give years
time for investigation and report, and
who doubts that years time would
be sufficient to reach an amicable
solution of almost every difficulty.
Does any one suppose that the pres
ent war would have been begun if a
years time had been taken to inves-
tigate the dispute between Austria
and Serbian