New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-05
TREATY BY REFERENDUM
A Simple Remedy for All the Horrors .,
War
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

Sir: In his work on Democracy and M.
plomacy 1913, Arthur Ponsonby, ". P
advocates a change in the tresty-makin,
power Instead Of allowing the Prime Min.
ister 20 make treaties, he would give Parb,.
ment the deciding voice. Such a cham.
might answer the purpose for England, bu. /,
the minds of many there is great need OF /,
more radical change in the foreign policy o.
this country. Considering our ventures /,
the making and unmaking Of foreign treati,,
in recent years, il would seem TO be n.
part of wisdom to have all treaties submitted
TO a popular vote To those who object "a
such a new departure, | would point to n,
world war as an example Of the appalling Ca
tastrophe which one self-willed man at IA,
head of a government may bring upon h,
country.
In 1873 Russia had defeated Turkey in N,
number of battles and her armies were knoc.
ing at the gates of Constantinople. vh.,
hostilities were brought to a close by III,
Treaty of San Stefano BY that treaty Tur
KEY was hopelessly dlsmembered. Russian
territory was greatly enlarged, Bulgaria vas
restored to the Bulgarian Empire Of the Md.
die Ages. other Balkan states were greatly
strengthened and the Christian peoples Q,
Armenia, Crete and other countries wsr
guaranteed immunity from future massacre
and spoliation at the hands of the Turkhh
butcher by being placed under the proteetio,
of Russia
These arrangements, however. did not sui.
England. They constituted a menace to "A,
balance Of power. IT was said. AT confer.
ence of the powers called BY England snt
held at Berlin in June, 1878. the Treaty 81
San Stefano was almost completely nulliked
Bulgaria. Montenegro and Serbia were d..
prived of all their recent gains, and the way
was paved for the acquisition Of Bosnia and
Herzegovina by Austria. Al the same tin.
Armenia and other Christian countries w.r
handed back TO the tender mercies OF Turkey
But it has remained for the present war 70
expose the full fruits OF the Treaty Of Der
lin. BY consentng to the substitution o.
that instrument for the Treaty Of San Ste.
fano Russia incurred the lasting hatred Of
Bulgaria. Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 10.
stead of fighting with her in this war they
are now arrayed against her Greece, too
would have been with Russia instead Of
being unfriendly neutral. The Berlin treaty
promoted that closer friendship between Tur
key and Germany which has greatly strengh
ened both countries and brought about II.
present coalition. If the Treaty of San Ste
fano had been allowed to stand, Armenia ans
the other Christian provinces would have
been under the protection OF Russia, and
Turkey could not have made the enormous
levies of men and supplies upon these prov
inces to carry on her campaign. These re-
sources would have been available for Rus
STA. Again, it is morally certain that, but
for the Berlin treaty, Constantinople would
have been a Russian port long before 1914
and By the loss of that city and these Chrs
tan provinces Turkey would have been "
greatly weakened that she would not dare %
enter this war. And hence all the lives and
money that have been sacrificed IN the lsts
and water campaigns against Turkey N
Bulgaria would have been saved 10 RUSS
England and France. All these troops and
supplies. as well as those OF Bulgaria, Boz
MIA and Herzegovina, would have been "sis
Bile against Germany and Austria VINO aa
doubt the result? Is il not morally eeriah
that with these additional resources FOR ne
Entente Allies and with only two natomN
fight. instead Of four, as now, the eontes
would have been decided against Germany
and Austria long before the end of 1915!
As it is. the bloody contest must go On
More millions of lives must De sacrihee'i
more billions Of taxes must be levied on NV
ure generations to continue the struggle io
existence. And whatever the additional sac
rifce NAV be. the responsibility for all OF
must rest upon the shoulders Of one man
BENJAMIN Disraeli, Prime Minister OF Ing
land in the Hateful year Of 1875. he II wa
who originated the scheme 20 rob Russia she
Bulgaria of the fruits Of their victories arc
to restore 70 the Turkish butcher ms suss
gle hold on Christian natons-a hold "hei
resulted in the slaughter Of one million AZ
menian Christians from 1873 10 1914 ana 81
other million Of the same nationality shN
the beginning of this war
Disrael's own party were not all IN ls,"
of his policy. and two members OF ms oa0,
net. Lords Derby and Carnaryon, resigne
rather than have anything 70 do with X l0'
Liberal party were a Unit against me sehen'
and Gladstone bitterly denounced H. ne 'e
clared that it was Disrael's Crypto-Judaisn
his hatred Of Russia for her policy toss"
Jews-rather than his loyalty 10 Engisn'
that dictated his policy Be that as II m"
the nobility of England welcomed home ITO,
tie Berlin conference the minister VINO ooaE
ed that he brought "peace with honor D-
to day the same English nobility, whose RAM
have been decimated by this war, resn"
that it was peace" with dishonor sno ?.
struction. The most fatal peace RECORDED
Englands history. Never again VIII her p'r
pic permit one man TO determine her iofsE
policy Every human lie now being sasl.
feed and every dollar now being expenceo ~
this war may be justly charged 20 the lrss"
of Berlin. England will heed the wsrnins
And other countries should heed TINS "As
ing. especially the United States. Inc q
perience of recent years proves tha' I o',
gress cannot be trusted in this matter ~
political parties are MORALLY afraid OF ~
tending the foreign element; and theE
often risk the welfare OF the whole eosnA'
in order 20 win the foreign-born vote re H..
dent Wilson in MS famous peace w''nV.
victory address has come forward WIN SO
gestions thai the big nations should oe eO.
PEELED TO let go their hold on the ii'ue
tons Such suggestions will certainly e.,
the foreign element. And Congress IS g.
1 anauQn 10 applts-