The sun., 1917-01-18
ALLIES AAlPLLFY REPLY TO WILSON;
LNDORSE HIS PEACE LEAGUE IDEA;
SAYIT RESTS ON THEIR TRIUMPH
Text of Entente Allies Supplemental Note to Wilson
of
1 BAo BnnshF ForignM

sired to make perpetual. Germany stood aloof.
Her historians and philosophers preached the
spendors Of war; power was proclaimed as the
true end of the state. and the general stan
forged with untring industry the weapons .!
which at the appointed moment power might be
achieved. These facts proved clearly enough tnat
treaty arrangements for maintaining peace were
not likely to find much favor at Berlin; they
did not prove that such treaties once made would
be utterly Intellectual. This became evident only
when had broken out, though the sought
demonstration, when it came. was overwhelming.
So long as Germany remains the Germany
which without shadow Of justification Overran
and barbarously i'll treated a country 1t was
re 20 tex sTs mo -" beter prcetion than
q solemn treaty
The case is made worse by the reflection that
these methods of calculated brutality were de-
signed by the Central Powers not merely to crush
to the dust those with whom they were at war,
but to intimidate those with whom they were
still at peace.
Belgium was not only victim; it
example. Neutrals intended to note the
outrages which accompanied its conquest the
reign Of terror which followed on its occupation;
the deportation of portion of its population;
the cruel oppression of the remainder. And lest
the nations happily protected either by British
fleets or by their own from German armies should
suppose themselves safe from German methods,
the submarine has (within its limits) assiduously
initiated the barbarous practices of the sister SER
vice. The war STATS of the Central Powers are
well content to horrify the world If at the same
time they terroriZe it,
If then the Central Powers succeed, it will
he to methods like these that they owe their sue
cess. How can any reform Of international rela-
tions be based peace thus obtained? Such
peace would represent the triumph of all the
forces which make war certain and make 1t brutal.
1t would advertise the futility of all the methods
which civilization relies to eliminate the occa-
sions of international dispute and to mitigate their
ferocity.
Germany and Austria made the present war
inevitable by attacking the rights Of one small
state. and they gained their initial triumphs by
the treaty Of the RI :ir,
their protectors or in treaties made by them a
bulwark against aggression? Terrorism by land
and ss. S have the Of
appeal Of neutrals? II existing treaties are no
more than scraps Of paper can fresh treaties help
US? they bs crowned re-. with success VIII II not
improve their code? None will profit by their
rules but Powers who break them. 1t is those
who keep them that will suffer.
Though therefore the people of this country
share to the full the desire of the President for
peace they do not believe peace can be durable
If it be not based on the success of the Allied
cause. For durable peace can hardly be eX-
pected unless three conditions are fulfilled The
first is that existing causes Of international un-
rest should be as far as possible removed or
weakened. The second is that the aggressive
aims and the unscrupulouS methods of the Cen
tral Powers should fall into dsrepute among their
own peoples. The third is that behind interna-
tional law and behind all treaty arrangements
for preventing or limiting hostilites some form
Of international sanction should be devised which
would give pause to the hardest aggressOr
These conditions may be difficult of fulfil
ment. But we believe them to be in general har-
lnony with the Presidents ideas and we are con-
tident that none Of them can be satisfied even
imperfectly, unless peace be secured on the gem
eral lines indicated $50 far as Europe is con-
cerned) 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 il
1t may secure barren triumph of one group OF
nations over another. 1t hears them because II
firmly believes that on the success of the Allies
Of those international reforms which the besI
thinkers Of the new world as of the old dare IA
hope may follow on the cessation Of our present
caamities.