The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-01
CONSIDER PEACE
TERMS, ADVICE
OF LANSD0WNE
British Statesman Says the
Signs Indicate Enemy
Wants War to End.
WILSON VIEW IDEALISTIC
Time May Be Near When Pre-
liminary Agreement Could
Be Reached.
WILSON VIEW IDEALISTIC
Bv the Associated Press.

LONDON, July 31.--Another letter upon
peace prospects written by the Marquis
Of Lansdowne was read at conference
OF his supporters to-day. This latest
utterance proposes no new policy. 1t
consists largely OF criticism Of the Allies
for their failure to state their war aims
more specifically and urges them to
take advantage OF any opportunity for
q discussion Of terms.
Tho chief Importance of Lord Lans-
downes letter Is that he Is the only
British statesman Of first rank who Is
listed in his own country and abroad,
whether correctly or otherwise, as a
pacifist. and his words will receive the
greatest publicity in the countries Of the
Central Powers. where 1t Is insisted they
represent a powerful portion OF BAtish
thought.
Earl Beauchamp presided over the
conference, and Baron Buckmaster,
former Lord Chancellor. and n few
pacifst members OF the Lords and
Commons attended. A sympathetic let
ter from Arthur Henderson, the Labor
leader in the House Of Commons. was
read Lord Buckmaster said:
MY complaint Is that whenever
reasonable suggestion of peace is made
on the part Of Germany 1t IL always re-
tected In this country on the ground that
il Is insincere. The people should insist
that all offers of peace be made public,
! am uneasy lest the aims for which
we entered the war are not the aims for
which we are continuing it,
Received Alphabetically.
The new Lansdowne letter has been
Alphabetically received in political circles.
The general Parliamentary opinion Is
said to be well summarized in the COM
ment OF one member of the House OF
commons: THE letter is simply an
elongatlon Of Lansdowne's previous pro-
rouncement, but 1t Is an elongation lead
ing nowhere"
In his letter the Marquis Of Lans-
downe says he Is convinced there
IS "a deep seated desire for a further
exclamation as to the conditions upon
Nach we are prepared, not to make
peace, but to open discussion which
might lead to peace"
The writer assumes that secret
treaties are liable to revision. and re-
ferring to President Wilson's latest
speech he says
1T is a picture. drawn by great
ma ster. Of the golden age to which we
are hidden to look forward. 1t does not
reem. however, to provide those who are
in search Of a basis for preliminary ne
sotiations with the kind Of ground work
after which they are striving"
Lord Lansdowne adds;
We are about to commence the ftth
year OF the great struggle for liberty.
and next week we shall reaffirm SOL
emn resolve not to desst from the ei-
fort until peace with honor Is In sight
Costs Heavier Each Month
Meanwhile, with every month that
passes the toll which the war is costing
becomes heavier and heavier. The civil
lied world Is being drained Of its re-
sources, Is spending its energies In
purely destructive effort, each of which
involves the further diminution OF Its
reserves Of power and the further mutt
latlon OF the machinery Of production
Lord Lansdowne refers to the esti-
mates placing the casualties OF the DEL
l.gerents at 10000 900. OF which 7.oOo'-
600 have been killed and 100000 made
prisoner or numbered among the miss
Ing and to the decline In the birth rate
which, according to tho Registrar-Gen-
eral in a recent aper. Is costing the
belligerents 12.6Oo. 900 potential lives OF
which $50, 900 have been lost to England
and Wales
Sooner than accept a dishonorable
peace" he says. I'VE are all ready to
hght on to the bitter end He dwells
on the tragic loss OF life and declares
that the desire for peace Is widespread
among the enemy nations. adding:
Enemy Wants Peace.
Upon no other assumption Is 1t pos
t'ole to explain the language OF those
Austrians and Germans who are In po-
stion to speak their minds freely or the
constant feeiers launched by the Govern
ments OF the Central Powers.
But We are apparently as far as ever
from the end. The tide OF carnage and
destruction continues to flow and carries
all before It. From time to time a ray
Of rcasonableness illumines the gloom
only 10 be followed by relapse into re-
criminat!ons and controversies. in which
eacn SIDE Instead OF searching for points
~ agreement is anparently content with
o.alsct!c successes.
What is 1t that stands in the way.
Il is with no desire to embarrass the
Gorernment that | ask the question, bu,
many Of US are sorely perplexed and fee
!. our duty to give them chance OF af