Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-18
ALLIES EXPLAIN
why PEACE NOT
POSSIBLE NOW
Balfour Sends Communists
to Spring Rice Aws>. ~
Recent Reply Sw
dent ~
WHEREFoRAs% DEMANDS
Something More Than Treaties
Necessary to Nations
Security.
ENTENTE VICTORY NEEDED

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE entente
allies, in a note addressed by Arthur
Balfour, British foreign minister. to
Ambassador Spring Rice and deliv-
cred to the State department today.
amplify their reply to President Viii
sons peace note by explaining in de-
tail why they believe it impossible at
present to attain peace which will
assure them such guarantees as they
consider essential.
The note also explains why the
allies demand the expulsion of Turkey
from Europe, restoration Of Alsace-
Lorraine to France, of Italy irrendeta
to Italy and the other territorial
changes set forth
Treaty Not Enough.
Those who think the future peace
of the world may be insured by inter
national treaties and international
laws, the note says, have ill-learned
the lessons taught by recent history.
After charging that German influence
in Turkey had resulted in conditions
as barbarouS and more aggressive
than we're known under Sultan Abdul
Hamid, and that it had been shown
Germany cannot be expected to re-
spect treaty obligations, Mr.. Balfour
says:
so long as Germany remains the
Germany which without a shadow of
justification overran and barbarously
ill-treated country it was pledged
to defend, no state can regard its
rights as secure if they have no better
protection than a solemn treaty"
Recites Reign of Terror.
Asserting that Belgium was not
Germany's only victim, the note re-
cites the reign of terror" attendant
upon Germany's method of warfare,
and adds:
The war stats of the central pow
ers are we'll content to horrify the
world if at the same time they can
terrorize it" The people of Great
Britain, Mr.. Balfour says, share Pres
ident Wilson's desire for peace, but do
not believe it can be durable unless
based on the success of the allied
cause.
Such a peace, it is argued, cannot
be expected unless these three condi-
tions are fulfilled; Existing causes of
international unrest shall be as far as
possible removed or weakened; the
a,I
methods of the central powers should
fall into disrepute among their own
peoples; and, finally, that behind inter-
national law and behind all treaty ar
rangements for preventing or limiting
hostilities some form OF international
sanction should be devised which
would give pause to the hardest
aggressor.
Note Is Unexpected.
at is recognized that these condi-
tions may be difficult of fulfillment,
but the belief is expressed that they
are i'll general harmony with Presi-
dent Wilson's ideas The note de-
clares confidence that so far as Eu-
rope is concerned none Of the condi-
tions can be satisfied, even imperfect
ly, unless peace is secured on the gen
eral lines indicated by the allies joint
note.
Great Britains note was entirely
unexpected to officials here, but was
gratifying because they interpreted it
as step toward the world federation
to preserve peace which President
Wilson, both in his speeches and in
his peace note, has pledged the United
States.
Justihes Its Policy.
Great Britain justihes its continu-
ance of hostilities, it was pointed out,
not only for the immediate objects of
the war, but also on the necessity that
behind international law and behind
all treaty arrangements for preventing
or limiting hostilities some form Of
sanction should be de-
vised which would give pause to the
hardest aggressor."
1t is just some such arrangement, il
is pointed out, which President Will
son has been urging and which is ex-
pected to cause wider disagreement
in American foreign policy than any
other question raised in the country's
history. Great Britain's answer was
interpreted as its official acceptance
and endorsement of the presidents
proposal.