The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-08-16
INCONSISTENT PETITION

INCONSISTENT PETITION
Dear Senator Stone: Some of the
recent discussions in the Senate
prompt us to ask you, as chairman of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Re
lations, to introduce a concurrent res
olution in the Senate which would en-
able Congress to state its conception
of the proper basis for peace nego-
tiations. We are submitting a purely
tentative draft of such a resolution.
Our reasons for urging immediate ac-
ton are these;
It can hardly be denied that the
German peace resolution, carried in
the Reichstag on July 19 by a vote of
PA to 116, is IN attempt on the part
of the German people to express their
willingness to enter into peace nego-
tiations on the basis Of mo annexa-
tions and no indemnities." The ex-
press language of the resolution leaves
no room for doubt:
1.-THE reichstag labors for peace and
a mutual understanding and lasting
reconciliation among the nations.
Forced acquisitions of territory and
political, economic, and financial vio-
lations are incompatible with such a
peace"
The reichstag, though not, in the
democratic sense, a truly representa-
tive body, is, nevertheless, the only
political body through which the
German people can speak to the rest
r of the world. Through it they have
spoken by an overwhelming majority
and in unmistakable terms, disclaim-
S ing conquest and indemnities, claim
ing only their national integrity, pro-
5 Tossing their desire to join in an in
ternational organization for a lasting
world peace. To ignore this resolu-
;, ton is to prove all our protestations
$ of friendship for the German people
false.
If we genuinely desire to strength
en- the hand of the German people
against au%tocracy, this is u oppor-
tunity; we must receive the reichstag
v resolution with official respect and
ignore the speech of the chancellor
- who is responsible only to the Kaiser
t We urge action by congressional
S resolution in this matter, because we
e believe it is high time for the parlia-
# ment of the world to take a hand in
e the business Of making peace. Con
a tinually called upon to approve war
s policies and vote war appropriations
the people representatives, with the
+ exception of Russia and now Germany
e have not declared their terms of peace
IT The above petition signed by eleven
st prominent pacifists and addressed tc
j. Senator w. J. Stone, as chairman OF
the committee on foreign relations OF
e the United States senate, is found Oh
y the first page of the congressional
p record of August 2, and shows quite
# as completely as anything could the
weakness of the position of those who
# contend that we should begin now tC
try to negotiate peace with Germany
RI without any indication that the rea
power of that country would grant az
honorable peace.
The petitioners urge that eve mus
b, receive the resolution of the reichsta,
with OFFICIAL respect and ignore tn,
speech of the chancellor, WHO Is RE
rs SPONSIBLE ONLY TO THE KAIS
Err"
hit How can we receive a resolution
~ with official respect which has no OF
d. fetal standing?
he The petitioners admit that the reich
" stag, though not a democratic bod,
speaks in a sense the inarticulat
as voice of the German people. Thi
quite agrees with the statement {
re President Wilson that it is not tn
H. German people who are making W.
A. on us.
r. The petitioners further admit thu
a the chancellor is responsible to tn
emperor alone.
lis These pacifist scholars also kno
in that the chancellor Represents nj
,rt only the emperor, but also the go
sh eminent and that we can only neg
mt tate with a government. So far
mt negotiations are concerned, the reicl
sr- stag has as much power to negotia
k as a street mass meet'-g Thc-