The Washington herald., 1917-01-14
EFFORTS FOR PEACE
ASSALED BY WRITER
Presidents Note Arouses Suspicion. De-
clared in Letter to Herald.

man who was riding along a country road
and came across burly man beating
his wife. The traveller dismounted, hauled
the brute of the beaten and trampled
woman and proceeded to administer chas-
tisement. But to his surprise he was
suddenly attacked from the rear by the
wife who Joined forces with the husband
and gave the would-be rescuer sound
drubbing.
In the recent efforts for peace We have
an illustration of what happens to
well-meaning friend who interferes in
quarrel. President Wilson's efforts
were dictated by the finest humanitarian
feelings. He hates carnage and slaugh-
ter everywhere. He hates 1t in Mexico
just as he does in Europe He will re-
ceive praise In history for being well-in-
tentioned and yet his best friepds will
wish that he had made his offer under
different circumstances. As the record
stands today there is necessity for de-
Tending the President against the charge
OF deliberate partisanship in making his
appeal
Presidents Position.
Instantly on reading this friends of
the administration will rush to the
typewriter and call me damned. But
what is the position of our excellent
President?-s His plea was either the
most inopportune effort ever made In
diplomacy of else II was the most
opportune for the purpose of achiev-
ing or attempting to achieve the
greatest desire of the Teutonic pow
ers. Take your choice. / doubt II
the general public has any idea of the
extent of the German propaganda
which was conducted for getting any
sort of an old peace. so they could
let 60: 1t was done with German
thoroughness. 1t was conducted in
other neutral countries as well as in
the United States. II was in full cry
in Scandinavia, in Holland, in Switzer-
land and in Spain. Indeed, so frantic
was 1t in Spain that 1t almost threat
ened the dynasty and caused the resig-
nation or the cabinet, while bringing
the country to the verge of revolu-
ton. Here in America 1t was most
audacious. Officials of the United
states government openly suggested
that restriction of our eexports to
the entente countries would tend to
shorten the war. An attack was made
on the credit OF the allies by the Fed
eral Reserve Board. German banking
interests were busy pulling every
string. l could give you names of
many so-called neutraIs who are over
their heads in the peace movement as
directed by German agents here. Dr.
Dernburg, at his best, could not have
done better. Many American newspa-
pers were told to do their part. One
printed series of remarkable articles
showing that Germany was inyincible
and must triumph. Another printed at
the same time a series in the interests
or peace. Others played the German
financial game by upholding the at
tack on the credit of the allies by the
national banking board. Still others
frsntically plead with the churche.
and betterment societies to urge peace
by making war unpopular without re-
gard to the great questions involved.
Notes Unconnected.
Then came the German peace note and
following came the Presidents note ad-
dressed to neutrals and belligerents
Now the rapidity with which the Presi-
dents note followed the German note
was sufficient to arouse a suspicion on
the part of the allies without any of.
the things which have been cited above.
The President realized this and in his
note was careful to declare that there
was no connection between the two.
do not know what may be the secret
Influences which were at work during
this maneuver. but l do know that in
the entente countries the impression was
crystallized that President Wilson was
unduly favoring the cause OF Germany
and losing sight of the great cause which
they consider they are fighting for. The
plain truth Is that every German has
been taught for years that in case OF a
conflict between the German empire and
an alliance OF Great Britain, Russia and
France, the Germans could not expect
to win and the best they could expect
would be drawn Battle You will find
this idea fully discussed again and again
in Bernhardrs books. Before the stale
mate that followed the battle of the
Marine, Germany made overtures to
France while Won Kluck was marching
on Paris to make a favorable separate
peace, promising to spare Paris" This
led to the treaty of London in which
all the entente powers pledged them
selves to make no separate peace, in
which Italy later Joined.
Have Cause to Look Askance.
1 do not blame President Wilson for
seizing the most favorable opportunity TO
suggest peace, but 1 cannot blame the
entente nations for looking askance at
the suggestion under the circumstances
Germany had again and again sought to
break into their solidarity, so she could
make peace with one and whip the others
at leisure. Officials Of the United States
had attacked the credit OF the entente
allies, officially warning against invest
ment In treasury notes. This was an at
tack on nations which had purchased
from the United States In 1916 more than
three and three-quarter billions of goods
England, S.4J9, 1s9. 5s4; France, $3.50. .672, ,5O4:
Canada, 1886, ,sS4,415; Russia in Europe.
s1sS. .259,65; Russia in Asia, $780, 255 759: italy
s270,4S9922; Japan, s75.09S,1 S,1SS: Scotland,
s66, ,0S7, 1852; Australia, SIS, ,0s4; Ireland,
s42, 800, ,317 The total purchases from the
United States by Great Britain and her
colonies were s2,539, ,175, 762 may be
criticised for bringing something sordid
into my argument, but that was the issue
on which the late campaign was won.
1t was no wonder. then, considering that
the allies feel that they. are making a
contest for the freedom of small nations
and against the menace of militarism, and
considering that they have again and
again stated their purpose which was to
end such menaces as became an active
force In August, 1914, that the entente
statesmen felt that they had grounds
for suspicion.
Made Peace "Mockery.v
Well-meaning men had rushed in where
the President feared to tread from the
very outbreak of the war. I recall that
cur own Oscar Strauss was busying him
self in London in August, 1914, trying to
bring about peace, but after a talk with
Sir Edward Grey he came home with