New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-20
Lodges of Italy, France,
Belgium and Serbia
Act
Italians Are Overruled
The Conference Refuses to
Act on Trentino
Question

LONDON, Aug. 19.--The Masons OF
Italy. France, Belgium, Portugal, Ser
bia and some Of the European neutrals
met in Paris two months ago and
adopted what are known as the white
peace proposals, so called from the
color of the movements flag, in con-
tradictinction to the BLACK" proposals
Of the Vatican, and the red" of the
Socialists.
The Grand Lodges Of England. Ire
land and Scotland were not represented
because they refrain from all political
questions, both national and interna-
tional.
The Paris meeting formed an or
ganization known as the Society OF
Nations, with an international parlis-
ment charged with the duty of solving
conflicts between countries on the basis
Of autonomy and independence Of ma
tons and solidarity among peoples.
The Paris Temps" stated the terms as
follows:
First, the return OF Alsace and Lor-
raine to France; second, the reconsti-
tuition By reunion of the three frag-
ments of Poland-Russian Prussisn
and Austrian-into an Independent ma
ton; third. the independence Of Bo-
hemia; fourth, the liberation and uni
fication of all nationslities to-day OPP
pressed b. the political and admins
If
empire in its various dominions, which
declared themselves in favor Of such
course by plebiscite.
Italians Overruled
The Italian delegates pleaded for
more explicit terms regarding the
Trentino. but they were overrulcd. An
immediate dispute arose and certain
sections of the Italian press condemned
the terms. Ettsro Ferrari, for years
the Grand Master of the Grand Orient
of Italy, resigned, but reconsidercd
when Andre Lebey, the French deputy
who drafted the terms, explained fur
Their just what he considered the terms
covered.
Being fully aware Of this friction,
the Vatican aimed to profit by the dis
pute raging among the anti-clercal cir
cles of Rome. The London correspond
ent of "The Birmingham Post who is
one of the highest Masons in England,
writes on this point:
while judiciously vague regarding
territorial questions like those of the
issue between Italy and Austria and
between Germany and France-those
being Italia Irredenta and Alsace and
Lorraine-on which the Italian and
French Free Masons had come to log
rerheads, one of the Vatican,s semi.
official organs, the 'Corriere DItalia,'
has been allowed to suggest that the
Papal note covers the return OF the
Trentino and of Alsace and Lorraine to
their respective nationalities. II is, OF
course, possible that it be read in that
sense"
Continental Freemasonry is unusual
" strong and politically active. The
present movement is considered highly
significant. It's activities are carried
on quietly, but none the less efficiently;
I'm TO date the British Masons hold
aloof, holding TO the precedent or the
last two centuries, though just before
the outbreak Of the war they enter
tanned the highest German Masonic
officers. and the flags of the two coun-
tries were entwined at all meeting
places. |,
close rivalry between the Vatican ana
tbe Nasons for the same objective, but
nv different methods and courses. The
Plack and White movements are I'M
douhtedlv powerful agents for peace,
hut the Red has outdistanced both al
ready. and il is hardly in its stride.
Task of the Allies
Says J. L. Garin in The OBJ
server: Cd,
nesce comes, but negotiations after
and not before victory. All this talk
about explaining our war aims Is Ger
man nonsense. The Germans know as
we'll as we do what we and our Allies
arc fighting for, and IL they have
anv doubt about the matter they have
only to read the draft of the statement
drawn up by the executive committees
of the Labor party, which embodies
nearly all the principles for which we
are fighting. -,
THAT statement has met with a
scornful and abusive reception through
| out Germany, and no amount OF talk
about Stockholm would make 1t &C,
ceptable TO the German people until
their military domination in Europe
is overthrow. Our task is hard, but
not beyond our power
OF what he calls "the great peace
push" Gsrvin says:
Like religion, the Socialist party is
being manipulated in the interest Of
what it detests. The Stockholm project
was originally inspired from Berlin
and spread to Petrograd when the rev
olution, in its first incautious months,
rcopened communication with the
enemy's docle agents. The contagion
has since spread so subtly that the
origin is forgotten, and many people
have caught it without knowing how or
even quite what is the matter with
them. Let public opinion keep plain
and steady grasp Of these truths with
out becoming either fumbling or ex-
cited"
Chadwick II. Moore recalls parallel
with Stockholm in the Civil War. when
Lincoln was pressed to permit party
of Northerners to confer with the
Southerners in the hope Of ending the
war By negotiation. He said: "Let them
20. They can do no harm and may do
good. We are not bound by what they
do" Moore suggests that the same