Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-25

| Dy the IrcSluCnl demand TOR tho
freedom of the seas in fact as well
as in theory.
so far as practicable, moreover,
every great people now struggling
toward a full development of its re-
sources and Of it's powers should be
assured direct outlet to the great
highways OF the sea. Where this
cannot be done by the cession Of
territory it can no doubt be done by
the naturalization of direct rights
Of way under the general guarantee
which viii assure the peace itself.
With a right comfy Of arrangement
no nation need be shut away from
free access to the open paths Of the
worlds commerce.
And the paths of the sea must
alike in law and in fact be free. The
freedom Of the seas is in the sine
qua non OF peace, equality, and CO.
operation No doubt somewhat
radical reconsideration of many OF
the rules Of international practice
hitherto sought to be established
may be necessary in order to make
the seas indeed free and common in
practically all circumstances for the
use of mankind, but the motive for
such changes is convincing and COM
pelling. There can be no trust or in
timacy between the peoples of the
world without them.
THE free, constant, unthreatened
intercourse Of nations is an essential
part of the process Of peace and of
development. 1t need not be diff
cult to define or to secure tho free
dom Of the seas if tho governments
of the world sincerely desire to come
to an agreement concerning it.
ut is q problem closely connected
with the limitation Of naval arma-
ments and the cooperation of the
navles Of the world in keeping the
seas at once free and safe"
The President speaks on behalf Of
the freedom OF Poland May we not
also believe that he speaks, by inn
plication, for the freedom of Ireland?
For without the freedom of Ireland
there can be no freedom of the seas.
We hope, for the sake OF this con-
summation, that the Central Powers
will demand both the freedom Of the
seas and the freedom OF Ireland in
their peace terms. Mr.. Wilson's APP
peal that "henceforth inviolable
security Of life, Of worship, and OF
industrial and social development
should be guaranteed to all peoples
who have lived hitherto under the
power of Governments devoted to a
faith and purpose hostile to their
own" will make a responsive echo
in every German and every American
breast. We shall not attempt to de-
pict how it will be received in Eng
land and Russia.
Mr.. Wilson outlines the conditions
under which America Is prepared to
participate in a world league to en-
force peace. He does not attempt to
prescribe peace terms;
Il do not mean to say that any
American Government would throw
any obstacle in the way OF any terms
OF peace the governments now at
war might agree upon, or seek to
upset them when made, whatever
they might be- only take 1t for
granted tnat mere terms OF peace
between the Delligerents will not
satisfy even tho belligerents them
selves! Mere agreements may not
make peace secure. 1t will be abb
soiutcly necessary that a force be
created as a guarantor Of the per-
manency OF the settlement so much
greater than the force OF any nation
now engaged or any alliance hitherto
formed or projected, that no nation,
no probable combination OF nations,
could face or Withstand 1t. If the
peace presently to be made is to en-
uure, it must be peace made secure
by the organized major force of man
kind
The terms Of the immediate
peace agreed upon viii determine
whether it is q peace for which such
guarantee can be secured. The
question upon which the whole flu
ture peace and policy Of the world
depends Is this
Is the present war q struggle for
just and secure peace or only for
new balance Of power? If it be
| only struggle for balance OF
power. who VIII guarantee, who can
guarantee, the stable equilibrium of
Inc new arrangement Only a trans
quill Europe can be a stable Europe.
There must be not only a balance Of
power, but community Of power;
not organized riyalries, but an or
ganizcd common peace"
This solution may not satisfy the
jingoes Of any country, but to the
nations at war, it wiz bring larger
Inspiration and greater comfort than
any message since Bethlehem. For
the first time in the history of the
world temporal ruler applies the
| tenets of Christianity to internation-
/ al politics. The Sermon on the
Mount is the source of Mr.. Wilson's
political wisdom. Let publicans and
| pharisees scom, mankind will not
disregard 1t. English politicians
may dissemblo their rage and may
| politely accept Mr.. Wilson's evangel
in principle without intention of APP
plying it in fact. But over such
politicians will run the chariot Of
evolution. They will be crushed un-
der the wheels OF progress. The
Wilson Doctrine will be the World
Doctrine.
George Sylvester Vicrcck
L -.