Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-13
To the Editors Of the EUeniu0 Ledger and
the London Daily Telegraph

To the Editors Of the EUeniu0 Ledger and
the London Daily Telegrdph'
Sirs-I have read with considerable in
terest DIR. Charles w. Eliot's article, "ln-
formal Steps Toward Peace" i'm the New
York Times and excerpts from Mr.. II. G,
Wess article, "a Reasonable Mans Peace,
in the London Daily News. Because / feel
so deeply that their ideas regarding peace
discussions today should not go unanswered
in the press forums of public opinion,
beg to submit this letter, with the thought
that my two years experience as a corre-
spondent in Germany before the United
States declared war might justify me in re-
plying to such prominent and respected edu-
cational and literary leaders as the presi-
dent emeritus of Harvard and the author OF
"Mr. Britling."
Doctor Eliot proposes that the "bellger-
ent nations" send from four to two or from
three to one, delegates each to an unoffi-
cial informal conference (the number de-
pending upon the size of the nation), with
the object Of considering feasible terms of
peace"
"I suggested merely a preliminary con-
ference of uninstructed delegates" Doctor
Eliot wrote, appointed by the several bel
ligerent Governments for the sole purpose Of
ascertaining so far as may prove practi-
cable, the state of public opinion in these
countries concerning, first, the means Of so
organizing the civilized world that interna-
tional war may be prevented and, secondly,
the removal or remedying in good measure
of the public wrongs, injustice and dis
trusts which contributed to the outbreak
of the present war, or have been created
during its course"
Mr.. Wells writes G quote from the
EVENING LEDGER: The conditions OF
peace can now be stated in general terms
that are as acceptable to a reasonable man
in Berlin as they are to a reasonable m IN
in Paris London, Petrograd or Constanti-
nople There is to be no conquest, no domi-
nation of recalcitrant populations, no bitter
nsstence upon vindictive penalties, and
there must be something in the nature Of
a worldwide league of nations to make
the world safe for democracy and to MAIN
tain international justice TO that the gem
eral mind of the world has come today"
Assumes That Germany Is Defeated
Doctor Eliot's article, as a whole, gives
| the impression which many Americans have
| that Germany is already defeated, mas
| much as she did not and cannot accom-
| plish what she set out TO accomplish,
| namely. the domination of Europe, If not
| the whole world. Assuming this to be true,
| they argue that peace made at any time
| now would be a victory for the United
| States and the Allies.
Statements such as / have quoted from
| these two publcists require careful an
| swers because they are in the vanguard
| of a peace movement which today is being
| pushed vigorously forward by the profess
| sional pacifsts, by educators who, few
months ago, were in the van of war, and by
| some other allied and American citizens
who secretly worship the enemy before the
| altar of their own conscience. The secret
| congregation of enemies at home in Eng
| Nand, France, the United States and Italy
and the paid agltators deserve no written
| answer because they are not susceptible to
argument. But TO the proposals of Doctor
| Eliot and Mr.. Wells every thinking ally
| must give his attention.
What think is bascally wrong in Doctor
Eliot's letter is that he is willing and
| ready for an informal, unofficial conference
with the enemy. Suppose that we accepted
| Doctor Eliot's suggestion and Germany was
| asked to send delegates to such a confer.
ence Who would select these delegates
| Under the German Constitution only the
Kaiser can make peace. The Kaiser has
| the final voice In all matters of foreign
| policy No diplomats or delegates can be
selected by the German people And Il
the German Emperor were TO name -four
members of such conference they woulC
| have to represent his views and the opin.
ions. of the generals staff. Germany vouIf
not send delegates who would not renre
sent the same German officials who brol,
the treaty with Belgium, and who withdrew
the promises made to the United States iT
the Sussex case The officials who IN 1e1l
made scraps of paper of treaties, and whs
in 1917 compelled the United States 10 fight
cannot be trusted today to name peace dele
gates any more than they could be trustee
| at the beginning OF the war or at the re-
sumption of the ruthless submarine war
Suppose that Austria Hungary sent dele
gates TO this conference, who would ol,oos,
them but Emperor Charles, who TODAY /,
absolutely under the thumb of the GernaI
military leaders2 With what represenfa.
tive body In Germany and Austria -HuneaT,
can the Allies deal when there Is no rnssn,
within the Central Powers by which m,
people can express their views2
To me the assumption that the Gerna,
people and Government, ere aIread AZ
feated is dangerous one. Il is my holie
u after seeing Germany from within dnrlr.
two years Of war that the Government ~.