New Britain herald., 1916-11-29
CONFIDENT WILSON
 ! WILL OFFER HELP
1 |etherlands Minister Expects President to Be Mediator

' The Hague, Nov 29.-Regarding eace rumors and the interest in peace
 ticles' Minister Van Dyke gave the
 aioWlng interview yesterday: nave no information about the %epS the American government is re- ortea 70 be taking to restore peace in &urepe. If I had, of course I could Ot say anything at all on the sub #ct; but as it is, am free to speak
 certaln points which are matters % public knowledge
 The first point is President Will Pn,s desire for peace and his offer of eolatlon at the beginning of the war. Xnen this was refused he said that it I'll stood open, but would not be re- eWed except on the request of both The first convention of He Hague conference of 1907 de- #ares that an offer of mediation. even Flrlng hostilities cannot be regarded E either of the parties in the dispute B an unfriendly act. This leaves me- &aIlon open, but says nothing about Pe more important question of when
 may be useful to help toward a just
 lasting peace.
 hnoWlng the attitude of the United EaCes government regarding the pres- at dreadful war in Europe, I believe #e must trust to it to recognize and #elcome the right moment when it's #rvfces will be useful for a peace Ih1ch will not carry in it's breast the *eds and sanction of a future war.
 'All neutrals and many people #nong the belligerents desire, like President Wilson, to know more clear
 the causes and aims of this bloody pnfiict. Many explanations have xeen offered from both sides, but Very one of them contained at least 1e vague undefined term this is what 8beds to be made clear.
 & America With President. The second point is the proposed Hague of peace, in favor of which resident Wilson has spoken so clear The vast majority of Americans fe with him not only in his views, but
 his manner of expressing them. It
 not league to enforce peace, but
 league to defend peace when re- #ored
 @Acceptance by the nations of the Einciple that it is a crime to make lar without previous appeal to req bn, justice, arbitration, or concilia- on would greatly enlighten the sit htion. It would be like an open nd universal treaty of defense Eainst such wars. It would condemn II secret treaties of offense as con- biracies against the league. It would kally be a definition of one of the Indispensable terms of peace in the resent situation. It would also be he of the bases for the rebuilding of &ternational law, which has suffered
 this war like a cathedral under #ombardment.
 tWould it do away with aggressive lar? Perhaps not; but it would make
 vastly more perilous. It would kalt right above might and pledge n nations to defend the appeal to bason and justice before taking the *vord
 tfWho would insure the keeping of hat pledge?
 ''There's no absolute guarantee for nything in this world, but in this hse there would be three reasonable Safeguards: First, the preparedness %f the nations to maintain their pledge &y force against any one of their lumber who broke it; second, sense t national interest as bound up with Rhe interest and welfare of mankind; .1ird and ultimately, the force of an Enlightened public opinion everywhere Recognizing that aggressive war is sim Nv a violent interruption of the pro- Hess of civilization. Unless man is a 3east such public opinion must be he final tribunal for all great cases. <yecurus judicat orbis terrarum.'