Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-04
EUROPE WOULD
WELCOME PEACE
SAYS GOVERNOR
Chief Elective Arrived in Capital
City Last Night From Euro
pean Trip.
"U. S. MUST LEAD THE
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS"
Governor Hanna Gives Graphic
Picture Of Conditions in War
ring Countries.

nor l.. B. Hanna, who arrived in the
capital city on No. l last night.
while away my time has been
spent in Norway, Denmarck, Ger
many and Holland
"Their viewpoint Of the war and
conditions generally is different than
ours.
Each of the so-called neutral coun-
tries is trying it's best to preserve it's
neutrality. Not an easy thing to do
when surrounded by warlike neigh
bors like Germany, France, England
and Russia.
Holland has it's colonies in the
East Indies, Of great value, that she
might lose over night if she We're
drawn into the war.
Norway, Sweden and Denmark
each have their reasons for preserv-
ing strict neutrality, and yet know
ing that at any time they may become
involved.
''ln all Of the neutral countries
their armies are on a'@wal. footing.
The Increase in the cost OF govern
ment in every country, neutral and
belligerent, has been enormous. AS
an example, take the country Of Den
mark. In times of peace it's govern
ment costs about 130,000,O0O kroners
per year. Now. while Denmark is
not at war with any nation, yet, with
ry,I will ~
expenses caused by the war, it is
costing Denmark 250,000,00 to 100000
GEO kroners per year to maintain her
government. An enormous burden to
be paid by a nation of less than
100000 people That which is true
OF Denmark is true as to the other
neutral countries, and is true in Il
much larger degree in the belligerent
countries. There is a strong under
current in the countries visited for
peace.
Europe Wants Peace.
"The neutral countries each seem
to feel that they are not big or strong
enough to lead the way, or that the
impression might obtain that they
might seem to favor one side or the
other. ...'
"They wish the, United States to
take the lead. In Germany the
thought seems to be that any belliger-
ent country that might take the lead
in peace movement, that such a
step would be taken by the world as
an evidence of weakness on the part
Of the nation making the first pro-
pOsal.
Germany is being blockaded on the
sea by England, and of some things,
especially milk, there is a scarcity,
but on the whole Germany has plenty
of food for all, except for the babies.
Central Europe is open to her from
the North Sea TO Turkey. While in
Germany visited war hospitals, civil
ian detention camps and camps of
war prisoners. They were we'll TAX
en- care of, clean and plenty of whole
some food. The prisoners are weigh
ed each week and the records show
that they have gained in weight.
German Ignite Mines.
"While in Germany l spent two
days in Investigating the coal bri
quoting industry Germany has lig-
mite coal of the same character and
quality as ours. They burn Ignite
briquettes in their railroad engines,
in power plants, in hotels, barracks,
prison camps, in the private homes,
in fact, everywhere
North Dakota must briquette and
use her Ignite coal and save and
keep in the state the four millions of
dollars that we now send out annual
ly for Eastern coal. | shall take this
Ignite briquetting coal proposition up
with Dean Babcock of the state uni
versity and with him formulate some
plan to lay before our state legislat-
ure next winter. | have strong faith
that we can solve the coal problem
for North Dakota and the Northwest
and develop our greatest natural re-
source.
II was advised by several whom l
met from Belgium that conditions
there have improved very much. Eng
land has been generous in giving a
large stated sum each month for Bel
gian relief Most of the Belgians who
fled into Holland have returned to
their homes. Some $4,000 are still in
termed, however, in Holland and are
being supported by the Dutch govern
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