Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-16

.TAJOR Gl-1IE
that the distances between the con-
septions of the two sides has. on the
whole, grown somewhat less; that
despite the indisputable consequence
es of decided and hitherto unbridged
differences, a partial turning from
many of the most extreme concrete
war aims is visible and a certain
agreement upon the relative general
basic principles OF a world peace
manifests itself.
In both camps there is undoubted-
ly observable in wide classes of the
population a growth of the will to
peace and understanding. More
over, 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 OF responsible
statesmen OF the latter, as we'll as
of the non-responsible but, in a
political respect, no wise uninfluenc-
tial personalities, confirm this inn
preston. while, for example, the
reply of the allies to President Will
son made demands which amounted
to the dismemberment of Austria
Hungary, to a dimnition and deep
internal transformation of the Ger
man empire, and the restriction of
Turkish European ownership, these
demands, the realization of which
was based on the supposition of an
overwhelming victory, were later
modified by the declarations from
official entente quarters, or i'll part
were dropped.
Cites Balfour's Views.
Thus, in a declaration made in the
British house of commons a year
ago, Secretary Balfour expressly
recognized that Austria Hungary
must itself solve its internal pro-
blems, and that no one could I'M
pose constitution upon Germany
from the outside. Premier Lloyd
George declared at the beginning of
this year that it was not one of the
allies war aims to partition Austria
Hungary, to rob the Ottoman ell
pire of its Turkish provinces, or to
reform Germany internally. 1t may
also be considered symptomatic that
in December, 1917, Mr.. Balfour
categorically repudiated the assump-
ton that British policy had ever ell
gagged itself for the creation of an
independent states out of the terri
tories on the left bank of the Rhine.
"The central powers leave it i'll
no doubt that they are only waging
a war of defense for the integrity
and the security of their territories.
Far more outspoken than in the
domain of concrete war aims has
the reapproachment of conceptions
proceeded regarding those guiding
order of upon the basis of which
peace shall be concluded and the
future order of Europe and the
world built up. In this direction
President Wilson, in his speeches Of
February II and July 4 of this year,
has formulated principles which
have not encountered contradiction
on the part of the allies and the
far-reaching application of which
is likely to meet with no objection
on the part of the powers of the
quadruplex alliance, also pre-suppos-
ing that this application is general
and reconciiable with the vital in
terests of the states concerned.
Peace Desire Growing.
ITO an unprejudiced observer
there can be no doubt that in all
the belligerent states, without ex-
ccption, the desire for a peace of
understanding has been enormously
strengthened; that the conviction is
ar increasingly spreading; that the
further continuance of the bloody
struggle must transform Europe
into ruins and into a state of ex-
haustion that will mar its develop
ment for decades to come-and this
without any guarantee of thereby
bringing about that decision by
arms which has vainly striven after
by both sides in four years filled
with enormous sacrifices, sufferings
and exertions.
I'm what manner, however, can
the way be paved for an understand
ing and an understanding finally at
tanned? Is there any serious pros
pect whatever of reaching this aim
by continuing the discussion of the
peace problems in the way hitherto
followed?
1--WE have not the courage to an
swer the latter question in the at
frmative. The discussion from one
public tribune to another. as has
hitherto taken place between states
men of the various countries, was
really only a series of monologues.
1t lacked, above everything, direct
ness. Speech and counter-speech