Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-16

form of eloquence is used which reck ons with the effect at great distances and on the masses Consciously or unconsciously however, one thereby increases the distance of the oppo- nents conception, produces misunder- standlngs which take root and are not removed, and makes the frank ex- chanse of ideas more difficult. Every P1onouncement of leading statesmen is directly after it's delivery and be fore the authoritative quarters of the opposlte side can reply to it, made the subject of passionate or exag- Gerated discussion of Irresponsible ele ments.
 But anxiety lest they should en- danger the interests Of their arms by unfaVorably infiuGncing feeling at nome and lest they prematurely be- tray thelr own ultimate intentions, also causes the responsible statesmen themselves to strike q higler tone and stubbornly to adhere to extreme standpoints
 If, therefore. an attempt is made to see whether the basis exists for an understanding calculated to deliver Europe from the catastrophe of the suicidal continuation of the struggle, then, in any case, another methcd d should be chosen which. renders DOS s!ble direct, verbal discussion be- i tween the representatives of the gov ernments, and only between them he opposing conceptions of individual Deillgerent states would likewise have to form the subject of such a discus slon Tor mutual enlightenment, as well as the general principles that shall serve as the basis tor peace ano the future relations of the states lc one another, and regarding which, ir i the first place. an accord can be l sought with a prospect of success | As soon as an agreement were reached on the fundamental princi- pies, an attempt would lave to bs made in the course of the discussions concretely to apply them to individ- ual peace questions and thereby brins about their solution.
 We venture to hope that there vii be no objection on the part of any belligerents to such an exchange O. views. The war activities would ex. 1 perience no interruption. The discus
 sions, too. would only go so far a
 was considered by the participants t
 offer a prospect of success. No dis advantages would arise theref-om fo
 the states represented. Far iron
 harming, such an n exchange of view could only be useful to the cause o
 peace.
 What did not succeed the first tim
 can be repeated, and perhaps it hai
 already at least contributed to tn
 clarifcation of views. Mountains O
 old misunderstanding might be re
 moved and many new things perceiv
 ed. Streams of pent-up human kind
 ness would be released, in the warmtl of which everything essential woui, ran ai in r1ff hA
 that is antagonistic, to which exces
 sive importance is still attributed
 would disappear.
 According to our conviction, all tn
 belligerents jointly owe to humanit,
 to examine whether now. after S
 many years of a costly but undecfde : struggle, the entire course of whic
 points to an understanding. it is DOS sible to make an end to the terribl
 grapple
 The Royal and Imperial Govern
 ment would like, therefore, to propos ) to the governments of all the belliger ent states to send delegates to a con fidential and unbinding discussion o } the basic principles for the conclusio } or peace, in a place in a neutral coun try and at near date that would yc l have to be agreed upon-delegate f who were charged to make known t } one another the conception of thei . governments regarding those princi } pies and to receive analogous com l munications, as well as to request an } give frank and candid expla nations O all those points which need to be pre- 7 cisely defined
 l "The Royal and Imperial Govern ? ment has the honor to request tn government of -, through tn f kind mediation of Your Exceilency. {
 bring this communication to tt ) knowledge of the government ( q i"
 l (The names of the intermediar
 government and of that addressed i
 the particular note dispatched are le
 bl5 nix