Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-19
LEAGUE TO ENFORCE PEACE
ENDORSED BY NEUTRALs
switzerland, Spain and Denmark
Express Interest I'm Purposes Of
American Association.
PROGRAM BEING CONSIDERED
Favorable Answers Received in re
Spouse to Inquiries Sent by The0-
dorc Marburg Read at Dinner
Held I'm Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH, january lS.-Ncutr;il
nations of Europe expressed, I'm mes
SaScS read at u dinner given here to-
night under the auspices of the League
To Enforce Peace, to consider n pro-
gram for permanent league Of ma
tons. To become effective ut the close
o! inc present war. Il doEirc TO take
part IN tie formation of such a league.
Letters from Switzerland. Spain and
i'chlhark, M answer to Inquiries from
theodore MarburS. chairman of the
committee on foreign organization Of
the League to Enforce Peace were
read. The favorable answers from the
ncu'ra! nations follow closely upon the
reply of the entente allies to President
Wilson. in which ten of the fourteen
countries at war jointly declared:
They associate themselves, with all
their hopes, with the project for tho
creation Of league of nations to in
sure peace and justice throughout the
world"
DR.. Hoffman. head of the Political
Department of Switzerland in bcha IL
Of his government. indorses the efforts
of the Lea que to Enforce Peace rs
follows:
Political Department of Switzerland.
Bern, December H. 1916.
MIR Chairman:
You have been 50 good rs to ad-
dress to us. through the Instrumental
i,y of our minister at Washington. and
accompanied by IL recommendation from
w. II. Taft former President Of the
United States, Il letter signed by you
and inclosing various documents con-
cerniuS the League TO Enforce Peace.
1t is. with very great interest. that
We have taken note of the program
OF your humanitarian movement. In
asking us to associate ourselves in il
YOU have given us Il new proof of the
sympathy OF the United States for
Switzerland. and We desire TO say 20
YOU how much we appreciate it,
The League 10 Enforce Peace. which
countsI among its members 50 many
eminent personalities, aims to insure
the maintenance OF peace after II shall
have been concluded-truly 4 delicate
mission. but the difficulties of which
are not to DC allowed 10 discourage
your efforts. You regard as one of The
most ef,icacious means TO that end a
treaty of arbitration. conceived in the
same spirit rs to that treaty OF Feb
ruary Is, 1914. between Switzerland
and tho United states, treaty which
all the countries arc to sign, and by
which they will undertake to submit
20 the decision OF Il supreme interna-
;ioual tribunal the conflicts which
may arise between them In order to
avoid as far AS possible. return OF
the catastrophe which hesolatcs the
world to-day. switzerland is so much
the better placed TO appreciate the
work OF which the United States has
taken the initiative because. surrounded
on all sides by war because. pcop,cd by
the race and irhcritins tho language
and the culture OF three among the
combatant nations, she is better able
than any other country to realize the
fact that war Is inhuman and is con-
trary 10 the superior interest OF civil
iZation which is the common patrimony
OF all men.
If, then. At tho conclusion of peace
the occasion should present itself for
us TO unite our efforts TO yours, We
will not fail TO do so, and will he
happy to make our contribution to-
ward rendering peace more secure
when re-cStablishcd.
Accepting. Mr.. Chairman. the assur-
ancc Of our very distinguished con-
sidcration.
tSgncd)
THE POLITICAL DEPARTMENT.