Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-21

men. scholars and journalists. Delegates
representing historical and business as
sociations from many sections of the
country were in attendance. many of
them taking part in the discussions.
The death kueli Of German militarism
was sounded when President Wilson and
the American Congress resolved to enter
the war. according to Toyokichi Iyenaga
OF New York, managing director of the
East and West News Bureau.
1T was sheer madness he said. for
Germany to arouse the sleeping giant of
this hemisphere. There is no doubt now
as to which side of the belligerents will
that arises is. how long will be the time
before Germany collapses.
opportune Time for Germany.
II make bold to say that IL would be
to the great advantage of Germany to sue
for peace today and Immediately to stop
this awful carnage and destruction before
she has inflamed the American public
by a hostile encounter If she would now
lay her cards upon the table and ask for
lenient terms of settlement her enemies
probably would not be loathe TO grant
them. In this respect the influence of
America would doubtless be strongly ex-
erted in Germany's favor. Were Ger
the first time why she dragged thA
United States into this war.
The problems of durable peace be-
tween America and Japan, Mr.. Iyenaga
said. will not have received their def
mite and final solution until Japanese
residing in this country receive full
recognition of their equality with peo-
pie of other nationalities, such rec
ognition of equality. political and So
cial.' he added, lis denied to Japan so
In ha- r. y, i
against and cannot enjoy rights and
privileges accorded to other aliens"
Charles Pergler of Cresco. Iowa. said
the exit of Turkey from Europe is now
only question of a short time. Rus
sia, he said. "henceforth will be a
democratic ally-governed country. Thus
remains unsolved only one major in
ternational problem involving the rights
of small nations
"Must Dismember Austria
The allied note to President Wilson
demands the liberation of Italians
Slavs, Rumanians and Czecho-Slovak
from foreign domination. The Czechs
and Slovaks ask for the reconstruction
OF an independent Bohemian -Slovak
state All this postulates the dissolu-
tion, or at least a very serious diminu-
ton, of Austria-Hungary.
The liberalization of the Austro-
Hungarian empire has become imprac-
ticable il not wholly impossible.
The Austrian question is the Turkish
problem in another form. To permit
Austria to exist in any form when this
war is concluded is merely to delay the
solution of problem that will never
down: and in the life of nations, as well
as individuals. delay and procrastina
ton. the tendency to postpone final
decision, is crime for which penalties
are sure to follow. We have seen what
this penalty iS-a war devastating civ
ilized countries
Among others on the program for
speeches today were Talcott Williams,
Columbia University. David Lawrence,
Washington correspondent of the New
York Evening Post: Theodore Marburg
formerly minister of the United States
to Belgium. and George W. Wicker
sham. New York, former Attorney Gen.
eral of the United States.
Address of David Lawrence.
International freedom of the press
as one of the fundamentals before a
durable peace in the world can be es-
tablished. was urged by David Law
renee. Washington correspondent OF
the New York Evening Post.
The very fact that the United States
5000 miles away from Germany and the
come involved in the war was cited by
Mr.. Lawrence as evidence of the great
problem that must be solved before a
lasting peace can be established He
charged that lack of free interchange
OF public opinions between nations is
largely responsible for the present war
Mr.. Lawrence said:
Gould the heart of America have
been poured out to the people of Ger
many. could the utter unwillingness of
fah
pean war have been demonstrated con
clusively to the German people could
The passionate desire of the American
people TO sacrifice their lives and for
tunes for the vindication of the rights
OF humanity and the laws of nations
have been conyincingly carried home 10
the people of Germany. and, moreover
could the German people have spoken
their viii through a representative
body. who is there who will say that
the United States and Germany would
nevertheless have been at war todayo
Need for German Revolution.
What does America today pray for
What is ii that will be hailed as tn,
first sign of peace and the restoration
of reason in Germany? revolution
the overthrow of the imperial govern
ment that has decreed submarine war
fare, that has deported Belgians, tina,
mas 1uStlned the destruction of thu
I.usitania, the murder of non-com.
blatant women and children on land anf
sea Would the German people in nos
session of democratic institutions hav,
sanctioned these atrocities? American,
do not think so. And, therefore IN.
universal hope is for a revolution iha.
will release "A spirit of democracy tina
is in potential existence wherever intel
lgent and civilized peoples live How
can democracy assert itself withou
available processes for the crystalIiza
ton of public opinion. In Germany an
tocratic government is still powerful
enough to prevent free speech free as
semblage and the election of a legi sla
ture by the free will of the people.
1T is the constitutional freedom q
the press that has made of America ;
democracy in fact as well as in name
German newspapers have been timidI,
subservient to the autocratic interest,
of the imperial government
The most essential problem in tn
making of a durable peace is the disco
luton of any partnership that may exis
in any country between the government
and the press.
Last. but not least. is the question O
editorial and news intercourse between
nations. The spoken words of physica
contact are, of course. most effective Il
preventing or solving international mis-
understandings. but the interchange O
public opinions through the press 1
most often the only way that distance
can be overcome. News and edtoria
opinion passing from nation to natio
must not be treated as contraband by a
Intervening state, at any time. Their
must be international freedom of tn
press"
aRelrium Must BE Restored.