Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-16

not led to tangible general result that
could be utilized.
1T is true that. independent of all
these oscillations. it can be stated that
the distance between the conceptions of
the two sides has, on the whole, grown
somewhat less so that. despite the in
continuance of decided and
unabridged differences. a par
tial turning from many of the most ex-
IRENE concrete war aims is visible ana
a certain agreement upon the relative
basis principles Of a world peace
manifests itself In both camps there is
observable In wide classes
of the population growth OF the will
to peace and understanding. Moreover,
a comparison of the reception of the
peace proposal OF the powers Of the
Quadruple Alliance on the part of their
opponents with the later utterances CT
responsible statesmen of the latter. as
well as of the non-responsible but. in a
political respect nowise uninhrential
personalities. confirms this impression.
while, for example. the reply Of the
Allies to President Wilson made de-
mands which amounted to the dismem-
be-ment OF Austria Hungary to dimi-
mutton, and n deep internal TRANSFORMED
ton of the German empire, and the de-
struction Of Turkish European owner
shin, these demands, the realization OF
which was based on the suppoStion OF
an overwhelming victory, were later
modified in many declarations from OIL
cial Entente quarter. or in part were
opped,
Thus in q decla -ation made in the
British House of Commons year ago,
Secretary Balfour expressly recognized
that Austria Hungary itself must solve
its internal problems and that no one
could impose a constitution upon Ger
many from the outside. Premier Ii oyd
George declared at the beginning Of this
wear that it was not one of the Allies
war aims to partition Austria Hungary
to rob the Ottoman empire of its TURK
ish possessions. or to reform Germany
internally. 1t may also be considered
svn1ptomatic that in December. 1917, Mt
Ealfour categorically repudiated the as
sumption that British policy had ever
engaged itself for the creation of an in
dependent state out of the territories on
the left bank of the Rhine.
The Central Powers leave it in nc
doubt that they are only waging a wal
of defense for the integrity and the Sc
curity of their territories. Far more
outspoken than in the domain OF con
crete war aims has the rapproachmen'
of conceptions proceeded regarding
those guiding lines upon which tie basis
of peace shall be concluded and the fu
ture order OF Europe and the Worl9
built up In this direction President
Wilson in his speeches of February !.
and July of this year has formulated
principles which have not encounters
contradiction of the part of his all'es
and the far-reaching application oi
which Is likely to meet with no obiec'
ton on the part of the powers Of the
ouadruple Alliance also, presupposlne
that this application is general and re-
concila BILE with the vital interests of the
states concerned.
ut is true, it must be remembered
that an agreement on general principles
is insufficient but that there remains thf
further matter of reaching an accor'
upon their interpretations and their ap
pljcatjon to individual concrete war ani
peace questions.
ITO an unprecedented observer there
can be no doubt that in all the belliger-
ent states. without exception, the dea--e
for peace Of understanding has bee
enormously strengthened; that the con
viction is increasingly spreading thai
the further continuance of the bloody
struggle must transform Europe into
ruins and into state Of exhaustion that
will mar its development for decades to
come-and this without any guarantee
of thereby bringing about that decision
by arms which has been vajnlv strive"
after by both sides in four years file
with enormous sacrifices. sufferings and
exertions.
In what manner. however. can the
way be paved for an understanding and
an understanding finally attained? Is
there any serious prospect whatever o!
reaching this aim by continuing the de-
cision of the peace problem in the way
hitherto followed?
I'VE have not the courage 10 an
swer the latter question in the af-
firmative The decision from one pub
lie tribune to another. as has hith
erto taken place between statesmen
of the various countries was really
- II oh
ed, above everything, directness
Speech and counter-speecch did me-
fit into each other. The speakers
spoke over one another's heads.
"On the other hand was the pub
Lefty and the ground Of these decis-
ions which robbed them Of the pos
sibility of fruitful progress. In all
public statements of this nature a
form of eloquencc is used which
rcckons with the effect at great dis
tanccs and on the masses. Conscious
ly or unconsciously. however. one
thereby increases the distance II the
opponents conception producing mis-
Understandings Which take root ana
are not removed. and makes the
frank exchange of ideas more diff :
cult Every announcement IF lead
ing statesmen is, directly after lis
delivery and before the authorita-
tive quarters of the opposite side can
reply to it, made the subject of pas
sionate or exaggerated discussion of
irresponsible elements
But anxiety less they should en-
danger the interests Of their arms
by unfavorably influencing feeling at
home and lest they prematurely be-