The Washington herald., 1917-02-25

nemlas anu tne JuSo-SIaVbs ana the Ar
menians. and the Slovacs, and the Al
banians, and the syrians; which respects
the wishes of Italians, Ruthenians, Al
sations. Humans, to go under the alle-
glance Of their mother countries; which
provides Russia, Poland, Serbia with un-
trammelled access to the sea--and this is
the peace outlined by the President-such
q peace Is never likely to be accepted by
the Kaiser. II Is the negation Of Prus-
sian militarism and domination, the end
Of their hopes OF world power.
Il maintain. therefore, that we should
acclaim President Wilson. welcome his
proposals. and ask him to follow up the
logical line Of his argument. The peace
he wants. we want: the peace he wants,
the German Emperor does not want do
not know the feelings OF German democ-
racy. II there IL any. But, IL there is,
nothing was ever done moro liable than
this Presidential speech to split them
from their rulers"
Discussion OF q defensive alliance be-
tween England and America. or between
England, France and America. l. rift
among persons who do not believe that
the peace league will prove practicable
II 1t does not. the war and the efforts Of
the President, It Ii hoped, will have con-
verted the American people from their
traditional devotion to isolation, SO that
they win be ready to form an agreement
with the Liberal powers, which stand for
democracy and desire to keep peace. II
such an agreement could be negotiated, /
do not believe from what have heard
that America would be given any cause
to hang back because of the situation in
the Pacific. though this Is a topic that
cannot be discussed fully in q dispatch
from the capital Of Japan's ally. Very
little stock ts taken here In Japanese
American war scares. and It 10 held that
Japan's interests IN the East will keep
her busy for at least q generation, but
If the United States should prove to be
nervous. measures can be taken to allay
any fears.
An Englishman's View.
prominent Englishman and a warm
friend Of America said to me a few days
before the German submarine note was
Issued: IF the old system of alliances Is
to be abolished and Utopia ushered in
at the peace conference. well and good.
But II human nature Is too strong and
this Is not to be, the President can insure
world peace for . long time to come by
another method, and that is by negotiat-
ing an alliance with Great Britain. II by
that time you are In the war with us, 40
much the easier 1t viii be, but whether
you are or not It will be to your interest
and to ours to have such an Arrangement.
I say nothing about kindred ties or
hands across the sea, but ask only that
our interests and our respective posi-
lions be considered. We command the
sea- We are invulnerable to attack our
selves: we can prevent an aggressive
power from attacking by sea any other
country in the world. II we remained
neutral and you became involved in war
with Germany. your coasts might be
harried and your ships destroyed, and
conquest made by the enemy in South
America which you would be unable to
prevent. It Is, therefore, to your ad-
vantage to retain for the protection not
only Of the Monroe doctrine. but of your
selves the friendship, active and not pas
sive. Of the British fleet
~On the other hand. II We engaged
axain in q great war and you were pas
sively neutral and would not supply US
with raw materials or food, We might not
be able to carry on But together we
should be invincible. No power. no COM
oination Of powers would dare to attack
the greatest sea power linked with the
greatest money and Industrial force on
earth And, best Of all. We are both
nonaggressive nations. Neither Of US
would ever dream Of wantonly attacking
q great neighbor. for We have all tho
territory We want And II France Joineo
us. as think she would. It would be
morally certain that peace league or no
peace league no child now living would
ever see another great war; but II
America holds aloof the prospects for
permanent peace In Europe are. to say the
least. not Of the brightest