TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-08-15


Within these three weeks Just
past the Prime Minister Of Eng
land and his predecessor, the
present leader Of the opposition
in Parliament, have both ex-
pressly disclaimed any purpose
on the part of Great Britain or
her allies to interfere with the
domestic policies Of Germany or
of Austria, or to impose upoa
those empires forms Of govern
ment contrary to their consti-
tutions and to the wills Of their
peoples.
It was very noticeable also.
that in neither Of these public
declarations did the speaker
mention any other specific con-
dition OF peace than the restora-
ton Of Belgium and Of Seryia
to independence.
The British Prime Minister
did not say one, word about the
necessity of Germany's return
ing Alsace-Lorraine to France
or the necessity OF Italy's an
nexation Of Austrian territory,
or the necessity Of any other OF
the numerous conditions laid
down in the Allies declaration
of their demands made a lew
months ago in response TO Pres
ident Wilson's request.
Contemporaneous with these
remarkably modified declara.
tons Of the two English lead
ers, the German Imperial Chan
and the Austro-H Hungarian
both made public adj
dresses in which each unequi-
yocally stated that his Govern.
ment was ready and willing to
meet half way any suggestions
or offers Of negotiation made
either by the Entente Powers or
by the United States Govern
ment.
1t requires no extraordinarily
keen vision to read between the
lines Of all these declarations a
common WEAKNESS Of war and a
willingness to negotiate
peace, if some method can be
found to accomplish the difficult
and delicate task of inaugural
ing negotiations.
If this could be done, if some
body's common sense could pro-
vide a preliminary meeting
ground, the war would be over
in short order. Peace would
come almost as quickly as war
came.
Now, we believe that there is
a feasible, practicable method
by which peace negotiations can
be inaugurated without any. OF
the Governments engaged in the
war ceasing their military and
naval operations, defining the
conditions to which they are
secretly willing to accede, re-
yealing any Of the interior weak
nesses which they have succeed
ed in hiding, or in any way ac-
cording real or fancied advant-
age to enemy governments; a
method which will bind no gov.
eminent to any terms or con-
ditions or promises, and which
will have no control over any
governments independent ac-
ton, save the control Of moral
suasion and Of the expressed col
lective opinion of mankind.
This method which we now
submit, citizens, to your discus
sion and TO your verdict is to
assemble in some neutral coun-
try a congress OF delegates from
every country in the world, bel
.ligerent and neutral, whose
function it shall be to decide up
on and to put in written form.
and to submit to all the belliger-
ent governments, the framework
of a treaty Of peace which shall
be as nearly as possible reason
able and fair and just to the ma
tons engaged in war as well as
to the nations not engaged in
war.
The congress would have nc
power to pledge any government
to accept its findings, and nc
power to compel any govern
ment to accede to the conditions
and terms Of peace decided up.
on by the congress.
Its functions would be wholly
advisory.
All hat this congress woulc
be expected to do, and all thai
It could do, would be to exer'
else the friendly function Of
court Of arbitration, without any
power to impose its DEGREES up
on affecting governments.