New-York tribune., 1917-12-23
Compromise Between De-
mocracy and Autocracy
Called Impossible
Premature Peace
Efforts Condemned
u. S. Must Fight Until Vic
tory Is Achieved, Says
Declaration

oacers and members Of the EXecu-
80. conmittee Of the League for Ma
.o,,l Unity. representing leaders of
.,gr;on. politics, education. industry
II lsbor in this country, yesterday
'..nsd = signed declaration condemn
:, all efforts toward a premature
.,,ee and urging ;he continuation Of
=. war unit. a military victory is
.,hisved. -.
eve are in this war 20 conquer the
,,,uv's armies" the statement says
s,Loush not his territory nor Popula-
son We intend 70 nullify the power
= the Imperial German Government.
Y. 40 not intend that Il shall gain,
:. tbe exrense OF other nations, AN
',,srcement OF territory an eXpan-
lion Of industrial and commercial op-
.n,-yrities' or an increase OF pres
.gs'' A.. ;u.os
,,h;lity OF a lasting peace founded on
eonpromiSe between democracy and
s,,o,racv. pointing out that "the world
tfrnOt De Na4t oo-t 4Oi N1"iVNAoNs ~
issg as on organized autocracy-its
,,ople still believing II victoriouS--is
,,,renehed in the centre Of Europe,
i,sding 100000 armed men and pos-
,,ssing the resources of 10000 600
,sople in the worlds central position
tsr al seas and all continents
Germany. according TO the statement,
las been urging the United States tow
,rd war against her for many years.
Ionc before the present conflict, the
i,sgue points out, Germany deliberately
sought 70 iucite the people OF this
country 20 war against her.
sIts feet threatened the feet Of Ad-
-iral Dewey in Manila Harbor," II con
Times: ct sought 10 set the Monroe
Doctrine az naught; il proposed inter
rsntion BY Europe when we freed
Cuba; il laid plans TO control Santo
Domingo and Venezuela, and II has at
tempted this very year 20 array Japan
and Mexico against Us while we were
sull at peace
The statement then quotes President
Wilson's assertion that a peace estab-
lishing a return 10 the status quo ante
could not be sufficient and that terri
torial adjustments for manifest wrongs
cone Will be necessary.
Il points out that he has said th9t
peace must not only deliver the people
q Belgium and France, but must also
rescue the allies Of Germany from. the
inpudent and alien domination OF the
Prussisn military and commercial au-
tOeraey.h
This" the statement continues, sis
the democratic solution OF the que5-
ions Of annexation and indemnities.
The only peace that can assure peace Is
one that establishes the community OF
power among the nations which, the
President has shown. must replace the
balance Of power.
When German military reverses OBJ
l.ierste past victories and the war map
becomes unfavorsble TO Germany, no
toabt some Of the German parties will
bsgin 70 consider the peace principles
Of world democracy. No influential
German party yet sees coming defeat.
there is, therefore. as yet no common
ground for discussion between the par
assns Of Might and the partisans Of
hight"
those who signed the statement
vsre:
Cyrus Adler. acting president Jewish
iheOiogieal Seminary Of America. Philadel-
SaA
Charlie s. Barrett. president Farmer
hocationsl and Cooperative Union of
America. Union City. Ga.
james NJ Beck. American Bar Association.
New York
?. Il. Callahan. chairman Committee on
Var Activities. Knights Of Columbus, Louis
Vie. Ky.
Nm Carrie Chapman Gait, president Ma
bonJ American Woman's Suffrage Asso-
aahon Washington
D. l. Cease. editor "The Railroad Train
rlr," Cleveland
J. W. Crabtree. National Education Asso-
eAnon. Nsshinrton
Ralph NJ Easley. chairman Executive