The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-28
DR.. Ellot's Plan For Peace

Diplomacy IS not silent IN Va.
though laws may be. IL iuSeitnt-
may no; be ready TO talk peace, but
they ne1 ertheiesS keep III mlnd pos
sible conditions OF peace. The Nalu&
of Doctor Eliot'S plan Tor an unoI--
cial conference of representatives o.
the Powers is plainly conditioned by
the good faith OF the discussion. rev
will dispute the importance OF so or
sanizing the civilized world that
wars NAV be prevented hereafter.
Few will deny the soundneSs OF the
principles which he propounds IN in
1errogatiye form So far a. they ap-
ply to present conditions. they are IL
the main those which the Allies are
defending. Freedom from military
aggression, release of peoples from
an unnatural allegiance, reparatoh
of WRONGS such as Belgium ana Ser
bia have suffered, undolng OF unJuS,
annexations-these are definite OBJ
jects which must be attained before
there can be any lasting peace. Be
yond this there is room Tor debate
and negotiation. How far any con
ference at this time could clarity
public opinion is matter for specu-
laJlOn. some OL lIlt SuSSIStlOllN VI
Doctor Eliot might be taken up and
disposed OF as part OF the terms or
peace: others would arouse such
sharp Emergencies OF view that IN
ternational agreement upon them
might lot be possible for many years
to come.
That is. in fact, one practical OBJ
stacle 10 the success OF the proposed
n
the national feeling aroused by the
war is bound to check the growth OF
internationalism in some directions.
Again, neither the lncllnauonS nor
the interests of each nation can be
parallel with those of all the rest.
Take, for example, the substitution
of universal military service for a
professional military class. That Is
doubtless desirable. But is 1t not,
after all, a question for every nation
to settle for itself? Could a group
of nations in fairness enforce a par
ticular system upon Gootner nation
or group? Doctor Eliot goes so fan
into details as TO urge that the
proportion of officers permanently
employed may be larger IN navy
than in an army This apparently
implies that 'navalism" is less dan
gerous than 'militarism. Even so,
the land Powers would be naturally
reluctant to concede this 10 the sea
Powers. So with the suppression OF
secret diplomacy as a means OF pre-
serving peace. 1t might have that
effect. But is not this too matter
for the force of public opinion in all
nations? Any form OF International
ism that is TO be potent element in
preventing wars must concern itself
with broad principles of undisputed
validity, not with details upon when
agreement would be difficult.
Doctor Eiiot's proposal that there
should be no armiStice during such d
conference, that the functions of the
Governments interested should be
confined to appointing members and
giving them passports, is in effect an
admission that the time is not yet
ripe for formal discussion of peace
terms. If this is a war between de-
mocracy and autocracy, it is plain
that no practical step towards end
ing it can be taken until autocraCy
is sufficiently humbled to deal with
democracy nonestly-if, indeed there
can be any dealing whatever between
them. And certainly so long as Ger
many carries on the war with unre-
lenting cruelty, with undisguised in
difference to law or honor, the Allies
have no common paSis of argument
no ground for confidence in her
word So far as there is any hope
it lies in German liberalism, and this
while growing is as Vet under the
domination of the reactionary forces.
1t may be said that compromise is
inevitable since victory is impossible
Doctor Eliot himself describes the
present situation as stalemate
That the Allies may have ions
struggle ahead of them is quite like
ly. But if we reflect how on the
western front the advantage is plain
ly with the British and French, how
near TO collapse the Italian advance
may bring Austria, what the embar
go is already achieving, how great
the help which America can give is
certain to be, there will be no occa.
sion to adopt too hastily this meIan
choly on.-Philade1phia Led
ger.
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