New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-19
Believes a Conference
Based on The Hague
Would Solve Problem
HINT is SEEN
IN BALFOUR NOTE
Call for Immediate Meet.
ing Would Test Ger
many's Sincerity
[From The Tribune Bureaul


Of the Hague Conference is the pos
sible next step Of President Wilson
toward solving the peace problem.
While the President has himself
given no indication OF his thoughts,
he is known to be considering some
move to bring the powers together,
and it is believed in we'll advised
quarters that he is planning to sound
belligerents and neutrals as to their
readiness to enter a conference of this
sort.
The conclusions Of such a confer
ence could not. of course, bind the
belligerents during the war. Nations
cannot make treaties with their enc
mics. But the hope is that the discus
sion of permanent. world peace agree
ments among all powers would pro-
duce a plan for ending the present
conflict.
World Conference Favored
Such a step by President Wilson
would be a frank departure from the
traditional American policy Of isola-
ton. II would mean American parti-
eipation in matters heretofore re-
garded here as of purely European
concern. IL would mean that the
United States would virtually be
party to the peace treaty of the pres
ent war. But President Wilson,
through his declarations in favor of
= Eorld peace league, has indicated
plainly his readiness to enter into al
lisnees of "disentanglng" sort. But
already opposition has made itself
vocal in the Senate.
The protes.ations of the German
Government that IL is anxious for
peace conference with its enemies,
coupled with the strong hints con-
tanned in Foreign Minister Balfour's
note to the President yesterday, lead
TO the belief that the plan is not i'm
possible Of realization.
Mr.. Belfour laid strong emphasis on
the necessity for league Of nations
20 guarantee permanent peace. The
German Government has signified it's
readiness to enter such league,
"after the war"
Test Germany's Sincerity
President Wilson could test Ger
manys sincerity, it is declared, by in
viting her to an immediate conference,
not with her enemies alone. but with
all the powers of the world, to formu-
late a plan for a peace league which
might be made a condition Of peace in
Europe.
Mr. Balfour's references TO the peace
league idea stirred a great deal of COM
ment all over Washington. 1t is be-
lieved generally that in putting forth
this idea he aimed to enlist the Presl-
dents sympathy for the other condi,
tions of peace which he set down, ana
may also have intended to hint that the
United States ought to take the inltia-
tive in bringing about an agreement
among the powers TO such plan
The idea of a general conference is
apparently the only feasible move which
TIE President can make at this time.
He is estopped by the terms OF the
british note from making any further
overtures toward London, and by Secre-
tarv Zimmerman's fat refusal to give
terms he is prevented from approach
inc Rerlin. II is believed that he could
;ssue a call 10 world conference with
ont attending any of the belligerents, as
the conference would, of course. not be
binding on any power that chose not 10
ratify it's conclusions.
Kaiser Opposes League
II is we'll understood here that Ger
many does not want peace leasuo'
Her own declaration that such an ar
rangement should not be discussed
unt? after the war is taken as ample
evidence Of this.
In German quarters to-day il was de-
clared that the vanquished nation
nsver could consent TO a league OF
reaca and that il Germany should be
crushed as the Allies nave piahne1'
her one desire would be TO nave hahos
free for later revenge. In faet' IL
was said. a league OF peace would be
feasible only If the peace in the pres
ent war were arranged on basis OF
substantial satisfaction TO all the bel
ligcrents. ,.,
II President Wilson. however decides
N call a world peace conference now,
and tho call should be needed by all
the belligerents as well as the neu-
trails, long step will have been taken
toward discovering a basis Tor orlng-
ing the present war TO close.
II is suggested that II might even
ho nracticable TO arrange an informal
Tesre conference among the represen-
,s,ives Of the belligerent governments
norticipating no in the general conference.
Tbis general conference. also. might
continue in session BY agreement un-
IN tho end Of the war. furnishing a
resdv and constant medium for the ex-
change OF peace views.
Informal Conference, Maybe
II Isl in the expectation of some such
result as this, doubtless, that Ger
nanv could be induced 20 enter the
conference. The attitude OF the Allies
is not so easily foreseen. Their rep
re.cntatives htre are not discussing
Continued on pay,ss, column