The Washington herald., 1916-05-21
Bryan Balks at Peace Plan.

! 1t seems, after all is said and done that W.
| Jennings Bryan is in favor Of war At the Lake
Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration
| the other day he "dissentcd cmphaticaIly" from
the proposal to form league OF the nations
OF the world to enforce peace. "If we JOIN with
Europe in enforcing peace" he SAID, then W.
can hardly refuse to let them join in enforcing
peace over here" Does he not want peace over
here He added that If he knew the American
/ people there IS no disposition over here to
abandon the Monroe doIirinc.' In other words
he does not want peace enforced over here even
TO the Monroe doctrine
1t is possible Mr.. Bryan believes peace can
be maintained "ovcr here by negotiation if the
Monroe doctrine is attacked. on the principle that
nothing is final between friends" as he saws?
So ii Germany again proposes to occupy Ncnc-
zuea and establish another government there
ior the purpose OF collecting certain debts
owed her subjects, she did when Tohn Hay
was Secretary OF State under the Roosevelt ad-
Iministration, the matter be settled by ncgoti-
ation-to be continued indefinitely y-whilc Ncnc-
zuela has become German province. On the
occasion referred to Germany alone among the
lercatcr powers of Europe, had never .ccognzcd
! the Monroe doctrine and had assembled large
squadron OF warships the Venezuelan coast.
! She had proposed joint action in the affair to
England and Italy who "lso had unpaid claims
! but these latter powers declined to go far as
occupation; wkcrcupou Germany announced her
intention of going it alonc. President Roosevelt
ordered Admiral Dewey to take command Of
the Atlantic Fleet and prevent the occupation;
|tLcrcUpOn the German flcct sailed back home
Negotiation was quite brief
| But Mr.. Bryan is quite correct a, to the Mon
.Oc doctrine and the American people The
American people have no disposition to aban-
don that h.,
them today urging preparedness on this
nation that the doctrine may be maintained as
ono OF the bulwarks Of defense against foreign
aggrcssors and war this continent In this
Mr.. Bryan finds himself and his followers in
"a hopeless minority. He did his best to stop
preparedness by Congress, but his lobby was not
successful We arc to have an adequate army
and navy for defense despite his efforts in op-
position. And it signcrs to the proposed
League to Enforce Peace VIC shall be doubly in
sured against war growing out of any attack on
the Monroe doctrine. Nearly all the great
powers Of the world have long since cordially
acqulcsccd in the doctrine, and would be ready
with their aid to assist us in its maintenance
should the occasion arise
This attitude OF Mr. Bryan against the League
to Enforce Peace is strange in view of his record
j-hc, whom many Of his worshppcrs regard
almost as the Prince OF Peace Himself he, the
apostle OF Peacc-at-any-rr ard eager negoti-
ator tor IT. Did he not, when Secretary Of
State, negotiate treaties OF peace almost with
out number, for at least year. till his friends
thought he was sure OF the Nobel prize of
$4,000? And he ,pposcs what promises
to be the only practical remedy against future
wars, tho only guarantee against another
Hohcnzollcrn war for years. perhaps centuries
Ito come Mr.. Bryans mind seems as full Of
quirks and twists as when in the face of the