Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-25

u the purpose of negotiating, in behalf
Of their respective governments, whole
series Of treaties, by the terms of which
the many wars that had been raging until
then, including that Of the Spanish Sue
entire map Of the world reconstructed.
The so-called Peace Of Utrecht was fol-
lowed hundred years later by the Inter-
national Congress of Vienna, where, after
the destruction of the military terrorism
Of the first Emperor Napoleon, the
monarchs of Europe, and the greatest of
their ministers, once again reshaped the
map of the whole world-the changes, of
o very radical character, affecting both
hemispheres.
And now, after the lapse of another
hundred years, we are within measurable
distance of the gathering of another Inter-
national Congress, somewhere in Europe,
at which the plenipotentiaries of the
Powers will determine the conditions
under which a lasting peace may be Sc
cured at the close of the present war, and
where also the map of the world will be
subjected to alterations quite as far
reaching and momentous as those effected
by the Peace of Utrecht in 1913 and by
the Congress of Vienna in 1915.
On the occasion of the Peace of Utrecht,
the United States was not yet in existence
as an independent nation, and was not
even dreamed of as such. At the time of
the Congress of Vienna, the American
Republic was only forty years old, and
was regarded with considerable amount
Of i'll will by all the rulers and statesmen
present there, as the nation responsible
for those subversive doctrines which, ac-
cording to them, had precipitated the
great revolution in France that had ended
by plunging all Europe into wars extend
ing over a period of twenty years.
President Wilson's Ambition
THE question now arises as to what role
the United States will be called upon to
play in the congress that is to bring the
present war to a conclusion. In the very
early stages of the conflict President Will
son made no secret of his hopes that, as
the chief magistrate of the greatest of all
neutral Powers, he might be called upon
to act, not only as the chief mediator be
tween the various belligerents, but also
bo Iuc
the conditions of peace.
He anticipated that he would be in
vited to preside over the international
congress organized for the purpose, and
appears to have imagined that it would
be held, not in Europe, but on American
soil. The war between Japan and Russia
of ten years ago was terminated by
means of congress of peace held at
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, under the
virtual direction of President Roosevelt.
Why should not the present war in the Old
World be brought to a close by similar
international congress assembled in some
other American city, under the auspices
and protection of President Wilson?
1t was with these objects in view that
President Wilson refused to commit him
self to any expression of opinion, when
invited by King Albert's special embassy
to Washington to raise his voice in behalf
Of Belgium, to lodge diplomatic protest
against the unprovoked violation of her
neutrality, and to appeal to the Kaiser
for more humane treatment of the people
of the country so unjustly invaded, devas-
tated, and put to the fire and sword. He
Ill. L.