Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-14

We are approaching the greatest
crisis in the whole war. IL is conceiv-
able that before the Allied conference
takes place Germany will already
have committed herself TO the Rus
sian formula OF no annexation ana no
indemnity. If Germany does this IL Is
absolutely certain that there viii be
! tremendous peace movement IL the
world, and that there viii be very
great demand by the populations OF
the nations now fighting Germany Tor
peace on such basis.
II the governments OF France and
Great Britain and Italy insist on a
continuation OF the war until 1t be
possible 20 realize certain colonial
aspirations or 70 impose on Germany
indemnities OF the character Germany
imposed upon France in 1871. as con-
trasted with indemnities for wanton
damage done. the effect viii be to
strengthen Germany at home and
weaken the Allied cause In Russia
and the United States, and In Great
Britain and in France.
10 is perfectly idle and foolish to
imagine that the men who are fight
ing this war in the trenches have not
reached a clear idea IN their own
minds OF the terms and the necessity
Of peace. Just as long as IL Is a ques.
ton OF preventing Germany from
dominating the world, destroying the
liberties OF nations that were once
free or annexing territories contain
ing non-German populations, the man
In the trench will unquestionably
consent to go on but after three
years OF torture and hardship. in
which the statesmen and the military
chiefs have both failed him II IL In.
conceivable that for a long period he
will continue to so on fighting for
what he may easily consider to be
IMPOSSIBLE or even unworthy objects.
We are going to have necessarily
within the next few months new
protocol formulated by the Allies who
are lighting Germany Just as we are
going TO have a new protocol formula
ted for the Central Powers 70 Is per-
fectly patent that Germany will
within a reasonable length Of time
abandon all purposes of annexation
and indemnity because the war wearl-
ness at home compels H. Il Is foolish
| TO imagine that similar shrinkage in
expectation is not going on among the
soldiers Of the nations that are fight
ing Germany The war is taking a
different character every day. The
aims in tho minds OF the men who are
lighting the war are quite different
from those of the politicians and the
statesmen who have from the begin
ming stayed behind the firing line and
continued TO talk in tkf patter OF
diplomacy and statecraft as Il existed
in the days before the war.
II the United States now assumed
the place 10 which II is entitled IN the
Allied conference Il might easily
serve the cause for which It has en-
listed even better than It could hope
to serve It in the field. II il fails TO
do this, the time may come when the
people Of the United States them
selves will refuse to continue to sup.
port war policies made by European
nations without any participation by
] the American people in their manu-
/ iacture. We cannot escape RESPONSE
bility, because n we do not participate
in this conference we shall neverthe
loss be bound by our tacit under
standing with the enemies OF Germany
to go on fighting as long as they do
and thus. in fact. we may become
servants OF policies ard 's7as which
we do not believe in. This Is an ex-
treme case. 10 Is not likely that II
will happen, but II is possible and the
only escape Is for the United States
10 take its place at the coundl board
and 10 champion around the green
! table the ideas which the American
people believe they are fighting for.
There ought 10 be a clear appreci.
alton at home and abroad that the
people OF the United States VII not
permanently continue to fight a war
in the dark; that they will not make
great sacrifices without clear percep-
ton Of their purpose. and that they
will not for any long time accept
policies and principles at second
hand, made for them in Allied councils
without their voice being heard. This
can be said with the utmost frank
ness, because there is not the slight
est question that all the nations al
He'd against Germany would be no,
only glad but grateful IL the United
States would take the chair that has
been waiting for Il at the Allied coun-
ell board ever since the United States
| entered tho war