The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-02-03
Peace Talk Recalls How Negotia-
tons Were Started in
Past Conflicts.
GERMAN MOVE STANDS ALONE
History Toes Not Disclose an Exact
Parallel to Course of Central Pow.
ers-Med;ation, Such as or
fered by President, Seldom
Has Been Accepted.

| New York.-How did great wars
end? Have peace offers such as Pres.
ident Wilson's usually borne fruit:
DID an undefeated warning power like
Germany ever before hold out the olive
branch to the enemy1
These are questions Of intense in
terest to humanity today. Their an
swers have a direct bearing on the
topic uppermost in almost every mind
how soon the awful holocaust of
Europe's best and bravest will cease.
History does not disclose any exact
parallel to Germany's course. at least
IN modern times. A belligerent,
ooasting herself victorious, has never
De1ore requested her adversaries to
meet her end discuss possible terms
7 Of peace.
Moreover, President Wilson's offer
c1 mediation faces the fact that rare
~ have nations availed themselves of
such an opportunity. The United States
may now become the great peace
maker, the mediator between the en-
tente and the central powers, but it
VIII be almost the first time such q
situation has developed.
Many times, indeed, in almost every
war, beaten foe has requested peace
parleys through a neutral. Such an
act Is usually rightly taken as a con-
Iession OF defeat. In our last war,
the conflict with Spain, the Madrid
government on July 20, 1898, realiz-
Ing that further struggle was fruit
less, made overtures to the United
states through Jules Cambon, who
was then French Ambassador at
Washington.
Protocol Was Signed.
The American government immedi-
ateiy availed itself Of this chance to |
get together with the foe and IT DAVIS
later the protocol was signed.
When England tired of the long.
losing fight with her American colo.
nies. she first sent separate enyoys to
me French government, Americas
ally. These were followed BY other
negotiators who discussed the sim
atom with the commissioners tbe
american government had sent 70
Paris.
Inc American commissioners had
oeen positively commanded by the
Congress not to negotiate
,eace without the participation of
rance, which reminds us of the
agreement in force today between
ne present entente allies.
Out the commissioners did sign n
eparate treaty with the reservation
hat 1t should not go into effect until
rance had made peace. |,
When the French government was
informed by the commissioners of
7hat had been done, it accepted the
erms, which then came In force.
Our war OF 1872 saw an offer of
be Russian car to act as mediator I
iuch like President Wilson's action ,
few days ago. The offer was re-
ected by the British. But Lord Cas- 6
ereagh, speaking for the London I
overnment, let 1t be known at the
me he refused the car as media J
'r that he was willing to negotiate t
Irectly with the United States.
The United States Immediately sent '
but Great Britain de- f
yed a long time. She did not an h
pint the promised ENJOYS, who t
gned the peace of Client, until her s
oubles had aggravated greatly and s
he was quite DESTROYS of peace. e
In the Mexican war President Polk II
ould have made peace at almost any O