Evening journal., 1917-12-03
What is ii Lord LansdoWne
Holds Out 10 the World?
From the New York SUM.

Only the narrowest partlsanship or
the crazlest jingoism can discover in
Lord Lansdowne's remarkable letter
either selfish politics or the cowardice
OF yellow paciflsm; not even war
WEAKNESS, except IN the sense that all
Just and candid men are at all times
ready to declare themselves weary OF
war and its horrors and its menace OF
certain ruin TO civilization II indeh-
nitely prolonged. Lord LansdOwne is
something besides a statesman Of keen
vision and judgment ripened by wide
expei ience; he is a patriotic English
man, as stanch a supporter Of his coun-
try's cause and its nag as Lloyd George
or Lord NOrthcliffe or any other Briton
In public life.
On no other basis than this can the
propositions and suggestions contained
in Lord Ian downes pronouncement be
considered either by foe or friend His
purpose is the same as that which
Woodrow Wilson and Clemenceau and
LLOYD George represent In common
And instead Of dealing a blow at etfl-
cient unity Of action by proposing once
more a clearer definition of the aims
of war as a means toward peace, Lans-
dowue is seeking TO strengthen the
solidarity Of the Allies by co-ordinating
opinions now vaguely or diversely en-
tertalned in different quarters.
Keeping in mind the unmistakable
point OF view from which Lord Lans-
downe is regarding events, we may
proceed 10 inquire how far his main
propositions differ from those which
have been enunciated by other leaders
of opinion, President Woodrow VIII
son, for example.
4. The disclaimer Of any intent to
lnnihilate Germany as a great Power.
[ such a purpo has ever been ex-
pressed its expression has come flom
no sane and responsible quarter. Lord
ransd downe leaves plenty Of room for
The obvious distinction between the
Elimination Of the over-bearing mill
taristlc power that threatens the peace
of the world so long as 1t is permitted
20 exist, and the power which has
made Germany great in other respects,
ne rov o. Of intellgence, industry, and
! OF organization for the legitimate activ-
..es O. civilized life Who has ever pro-
posed to crush this sort Of power out
/ oil lTD"IlIuN uhlANAAuA NnNAANoot
2 That we do not seek to impose
upon the German people any form OF
government other than that OF thelI
own choice. Here Lord Ian downe Is
In exact accord with the principle OF
the right Of choice Of government
which President Wilson defined in the
historic address In which he asked oul
Congress 10 declare war upon the kais.
DrnafHnnl
hen said: We accept the gage OF bat
tie; we are glad to fight for the ultl'
mate reaco NJ NE w0-ld and 'ha i'"o~a
tion Of rs peoples; we are lighting "Fuf
THE RIGHTS OF NATIONS. GREAT AM
SMALL. AND THE PRIVILEGE OF MEN
EVERYWI ERE TO CHOOSE THEFT
WAY OF LIFE AND OF OBEDlENCE.'
The words capitalized are quoted
from Mr.. Wilson's utterances, not frou
ord Lans IoWne 1hey auO4d SUN
lent ansv er TO the idea that In Lans
lowne's suggestion there is aught tina
truckles g. German autocracy or re
.edes from positions previously takel
" the All.es For the right OF the Ger
nan people TO choose their own wa.
Il life and their own form Of govern
mont is as indi -putable as the right O
l ielgiOm ana OF cffDlh uul 10 nave
'orm Of government other than OF thei
iwn choice imposed upon them by tn
military power Of Germany. The tes
4 democracy as against autOcracy /
lot the form Of government which de
mocracy elects TO maintain, but tn
ight OF the people to make the choice
3. That, war measures apart W
rave no desire TO deny to Germany
lace among the great commercial com
nunities OF the world Once more tn
Conservative statesman in London
almost following the words Of the De
nooratic Pre- ident at Washington "W
are the sincere friends Of the Germa
neople," said Mr. Wilson in his wa
message, "and shall desire nothing $
much as the early re-establishment q
intimate relations Of mutual adtantag
between us " Commercial boycott win
dictively imposed as a punishment f.
war offences after peace is re-estah
ished has never found a place In an
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