Arizona republican., 1917-04-14
A Contribution to Peace

We would not mingle anything that smacks of oommercalism with patriotism or dilute with it our high purpose in entering into the world-war But there things that not improper for con- sdeTation, that have gone into it. Our chief part will be to furnish the entente allies with fnan- cial assistance they sorely need, and with food supplies aud munitions. But for such assistance we fear that the would be brought to speedy end.
 We arranging for the allies loan of three billions of dollars and will doubtless be contributed if it should be needed The blood of one or two millions of Americans will offered if that sacrifice should required For all this blood and treasure have ot only asked nothing but we have specifically renounced in advance any return. We seek no territory by conquest and TO indemnity. The loans of course we expect to be returned in some way but in the most favorable circumstances that will be matter of many years and probably of generations.
 l. is now suggested that repayment may be made easy for the allies and especially Great Britain, whom we shall regard the most responsible debtor, by the surrender of certain territory in the western hemisphere which in era of perpetual peace would be little value her and and which if owned by would be of great advantage. We mean the Brit ish possessions ill the West Indies, British Honduras and the Falkland Islands, all of which have bear ing the Panama canal. Likewise arrangement might be made for the annexation of the British and French Guianas to adjoining South American countries
 The insuar possessions of Great Britain in the western continent are of greater profit to her except for purposes than the Danish West Indies to Denmark. They be of little strategic value except in of with the United States. They other country than the United States; if they could be made profitable to any country it would be the United States
 It may be urged that if they of no strategic importance to Great Britain they would be vlenace against this country, supposing of that the present is going to usher in a perpetual world peace. think and Great Britain thinks But perhaps neither of us feel about that It be that sometimes wonder whether there is not truth in the declaration of Bernard Shaw War can do many things, but it cannot end No peace can be conclusive it is beyond the wit of man to draw treaty which will make it impossi- ble for to recur between Britain and either her present enemies or her present allies The destruction of mlitarism cannot be attained by military tri- umph; war is the creator. the sustaner the reason for-exstence of militarism">
 Future wars will depend upon many things chief among which are human nature and opportunity. Human nature is unchanged and unchangng. Op- portunity may be restricted removed. The trans fer of the British and French possessions in ern hemisphere would lessen the opportunities for either of those nations to engage in with the United States It would increase the defenses this country and would deprive neither Great Britain nor France of defense against any attack that might be made upon either. These old world possessions also may become cause of friction in the future while as American possessions they would be guar antors of peace