The Washington herald., 1917-01-19
Britain AmpE6es.


that they state their reasons for the
war and the terms on which they
would make peace, began with the
avowal that peace at this time was inn
possible; yet they send another note
to Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice in
the nature of an amplihcation of the
first note.
At the time the first note was sent
The Washington Herald took the
stand that although the note plainly
stated that peace was impossible at
this time, the allies wanted peace
and their answer to President Will
sons request was another step to-
ward the consummation of peace.
The very fact that within week
another note is sent to the British
Ambassador in this country seems to
bear out the contention that efforts for
peace are not hopeless. II either side
believed that there is not possibil-
ity of the negotiations going through,
they hardly would devote the time
and space to lengthy explanations
concerning peace overtures.
In the latest note, which is signed
by Arthur J. Balfour, Great Britain
asks that their observations be
brought to the notice of the United
States government. The note says in
part:
gather from the general tenor
of the Presidents note that, while
he is animated by an intense de-
sire that peace should come soon
and that when it comes it should
be lasting, he does not, for the
moment at least, concern himself
with the terms on which it should
be arranged. His majesty's gov
ernment entirely share with the
Presidents ideas; but they feel
strongly that the durability of
peace must largely depend on its
character and that no stable sys-
tenn of international relations can
be built on foundations which are
essentially and hopelessly defec-
tive.
1t is hard to see just what line OF
reasoning is used to arrive at the con-
clusion that the President docs not
concern himself with the terms on
which it (peace) should be arranged,
when the President asked specifically
for terms and the allies note in an
swer stated general terms.
After considerable space devoted to
explanation of the terms mentioned
in the first note, Britain's note to her
Ambassador concludes with:
These conditions may be diff
cult of fulhllment. But we believe
them to be in general harmony
with the Presidents ideas, and we
are confident that none of them
can be satisfied, even imperfectly,
unless peace be secured on the
general lines indicated $50 far as
Europe is concerned) in the joint
note. Therefore it is that this
country has made, is making, and
is prepared to make sacrifices of
blood and treasure unparalleled in
its history. 1t bears these heavy
burdens, not merely that it may
thus fulfill its treaty obligations.
nor yet that it may secure a bar
rem triumph of one group of ma
tions over another. 1t bears them
because it firmly believes that on
the success of the allies depend
the prospects of peaceful civiliza-
tion and of those international
reforms which the best thinkers
of the New World, as of the Old,
dare to hope may follow on the
cessation of our present calam-
tiles.
ARTHUR J. BALFOUR.
The line may be very finely drawn
but this British explanation Of the
allies note seems to take some of
the harshness from the original note
and affords ample opening for Ger
many to gracefully come forward
with the next step in the negotia-
tions which in time will end the
bloody European conflict.
Hurried Economy.