Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-16

snnOtion that British policy had ever
ensaged itself for the creation OF an
independent state out Of the territories
on the left bank OF the Rhine.
Calls reuton's War Defensive.
"The central powers leave It In no
doubt that they are only waging a wal
of defense for the integrity and the
security Of their territories.
Far more outspoken than In the do
main of concrete war aims has the rap
prUchement of conceptions proceeded
regarding those guiding lines upon the
basis Of which peace shall be concluded
and the future order OF Europe and the
world built up.
I'm this direction President Wilson
in his speeches OF February - and July
A of this year has formulated principles
which have not encountered contradic-
ton on the part of his allies and the far
reaching application Of which is likely
to meet with no objection on the part
Of the powers of the quadruple alliance
also. presupposing that this application
IL general and reconcilable with the
vital interests of the states concerned
TT Is true 1t must he remembered
that an agreement on general principles
is insufficient, but that there remains
the further matter of reaching an ac-
cord upon their Interpretation and their
application to individual concrete wal
and peace questions.
Premier Lloyd George declared at
the beginning of this year that it was
not one of the allies war aims to parti-
ton Austria Hungary, to rob the Otto
man empire of its Turkish provinces or
to reform Germany internally.
"To an unprejudiced observer there
can be no doubt that in all the bellig-
erent states, without exception, the de-
sire for a peace of understanding has
been enormously strengthened: that the
conviction IL increasingly spreading
that the further continuance of the
bloody struggle must transform Europe
into ruins and into a state of exhaus-
ton that will mar it's development for
decades to corne-and this without any
guaranty of thereby bringing about
that Lewiston by arms which has been
vainly striven after by both sides in
four years filled with enormous sacri-
fees. sufferings and exertions.
Ask How Can Way Be Paved.
I'm what manner. however. can the
way be paved for an understanding
and an understanding finally attained?
Is there any serious prospect what
ever of reaching this aim by con-
tinuing the discussion OF the peace
problem in the way hitherto followed?
I'VE have not the courage TO answer
the latter question in the affirmative.
The discussion from one public tribune
hay.p lgnY
between statesmen of the various
countries. was really only series OF
monoloeues. 1t lacked, above every
thing. directness. Speech and counter
speech did not fit into each other. The
speakers spoke over one anpthers
head.
ION the other hand was the publicity
and the ground OF these discussions,
which robbed them of the possibility OF
fruitful progress. In all public state
ments Of this nature form or
eloouence is used which reckons with
the effect at great distance and on the
masses
Consciously or uncon sciously, how
ever, one thereby increases the dis
tance of the opponents conception,
produces MISUNDERSTANDING which
take root and are not removed, and
| makes the frank exchange Of ideas
| more difficult. Every pronouncement
Of leading statesmen is directly after
| it's adversary and before the authorita-
| tive quarters ofsthe opposite side can
reply to it made the subject passionate
! or exaggerated discussion OF irrespon-
sible elements.
| But anxiety lest they should en-
danger the interests Of their arms by
| unfavora bly, influencing feeling at
| home and lest they prematurely betray
their own ultimate intentions also
| causes the responsible statesmen
| themselves to strike higher tone and
| stubbornly to adhere to extreme stand
points "a, 49,.
Asks Discussion by ENJOYS.
IF, therefore. all attempt is made to
| see whether the basis for an under
standing calculated to deliver Europe
from the catastrophe of the suicidal
continuation of the struggle, then, in
any case. another method should be
chosen which renders possible direct
| verbal discussion between the repre-
sentatives of the governments, and only
| between them.