Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-05
PEACE COMMISSION
Bill Introduced in Both Branches OF
Congress to Bring About Endur.
ing Tranquility

Senator Lane; and Congressman
Shellanberger have introduced bills
in both houses for creating a COM
mission of five persons to be known
as the United States Commission for
enduring peace; whose purpose it
shall be to aid in bringing about en-
during peace at the earliest possible
moment.
The following are its provisions;
That a Commission Of five persons
be appointed to be known as the
United States Commission for Endur-
ing Peace, whose purpose shall be to
aid in bringing about an enduring
peace at the earliest possible moment.
That all Of the five members COM
posing this Commission shall be ma
tive born citizens of the United States
of America; advocates Of peace. ncu-
trail in their attitude; and known to;
be specifically we'll qualified for such
an undertaking.
That the following named persons
shall be appointed to constitute the
Commission for Enduring Peace: tho
Honorable William Howard Taft, Elk
President of the United States; the
Honorable William Jennings Bryan
of Nebraska; Mr.. Justice Charles
Evan Hughes Of the United States
Supreme Court; the Honorable Will
liam J. Stone, Chairman of the For
eign Relations Committee Of the Unit
ed States Senate, and the Honorable
Henry D. Flood, Chairman Of the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the
House Of Representatives.
This Commission shall be accredit-
ed by the Government Of the United
States to the various belligerent ma.
lions Of Europe for the purpose OF
informally aiding them as an intcrmc-
diary, or in any other way possible, to
bring about an enduring peace at the
earliest opportunity. The Commits.
sion created by this act shall also be
accredited to the neutral governments.
1t shall he the duty of the Commits
sion created under this act to seek
the plans Of the belligerent and the
neutral nations, to consider the peace
plans of others and to formulate plans
Of its own which may seem possible
OF aiding in any way III securing IN
enduring peace at the earliest pos
sible moment; and to that end this
Commission shall start for such 4
European point as it shall determine
within fifteen days after the passing
of this act, if the members of the
Commission shall find it possible to
do so.
The members of this Commission
shall serve without pay, as it is the
purpose OF this Congress that the
Commission shall be representative
Of that vast majority Of our people
who would he willing, themselves, to
make sacrifice to hasten. an Enduring
Peace, and so. far; as possible. it shall
be untrammelcd by the usual methods
precedents, and forms incident to m
ternational Diplomacy.j j =
That every possible assistance shall
be rendered TO this Commission by
the representatives and employees Of
The Government Of the United States
and nothing in this act shall be con-
strued as Il restraint upon the method
and procedure Of this Commission,
whose existence shall terminate sixty
days after the signing Of 4 final treaty
Of peace and the cessation of hostil-
ties in Europe.
That the sum Of $4,000, or so
upon the written demand of it's
much thereof as may be necessary,
be, and the same hereby is, appropriate
ed out OF any money IN the Treasury,
not otherwise appropriated, for the
expenses of this Commission, at such
time and in such manner as ma
jority Of the Commission shall direct,
upon the written deman dof its
President.