The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-30
PEACE LETTER
like BOMB IN
ALLIES CAMP
British Lords Pacifist An
nOuncement ArOuseS Critics.
Like Wilson's Position in De-
mand for Statement of Aims.
BUT is NOT ANTI-KAISERISM
Denounced for Statement at
Most InOppOrtUne Time.
Intention May Be To Placate
Attitude Towards Russia.
BUT is NOT ANTI-KAISERISM
Lord Lansdowne's Peace Letter.

Summarized the Marquis of Lansdowne
proposed that the allies restate their war
aims in this general line:
That the allies do not desire annihtlation
OF Germany as great power.
That there is no desire to impose on ner
people any form Of government other than
that Of their own choice. --.
That except as legitimate war measure
there is no desire to deny Germany her
place among the great commercial nations
Of the world.
That the allies are prepared when war is
eoncluced, to examine in concert Win Win
problems, some of them of recent origin,
which are connected with question of free
That the allies are prepared to enter into
an international pact under which ample
opportunities are afforded for settlement
Of international disputes by peaceful means
Letter Big Sensation in England.
Washington, Nov. 30.-The Marquis
of Lansdowne's bombshell letter may
have far-reaching effect in bringing
England's discussions on the war to a
center on President Wilson's plans
for frank, full and joint statement of
aims by all the allies.
AS stated by the press recently in
London and Washington dispatches,
this government is profoundly inter
ested in having the allies LAY their
cards on the table" and make an open
pledge of war aims.
In some quarters today it was re-
garded as significant that ColoneI
House, President Wilson's official en-
voy, should recently have conferred
with the former British foreign min
ister-and that now, few days later
the MARQUIS of Lansdowne should
have issued his remarkable plea.
President Wilson's position, which
Colonel House reflects, squares fully
with a great many of LansdoWne
suggestions except the ones tending
toward pacifism. The former minis
ter's plans are fully in line, in the
main, with the American policy Of as
suring the German people that II they
oust Hohenzollernism there is no de-
sire to crush them utterly or to grab
territory.
For League of Nations.
Lansdowne favors a league of ma
tions; so does President Wilson Both
believe the German people should be
Impressed with the idea that the world
has no intention of crushing her
politically and commercially, in so far
as it may be necessary to make her
abandon intriguing kaiserism and
barbarity.
But most important of all, Lans-
downe agrees with President wilson
position, that there should be re-
statement of all allied war aims;
The American government attitude
is that all allied peoples, including
Russia, would be fired with new in
spfration, if imperialistic ambitions
were abandoned and the war aims of
all placed on an altruistic basis.
President Wilson believes further
that once the German people realize
the altruisrn of these aims, they would
make peace possible by overthrowing
their present arrogant dynasty and
Joining the world in democracy, or at
least curbing its autocratic powers.