New Britain herald., 1918-03-05
Believes VOn llGIl <
 Views a Forward Step

London. March 5.-In the view of Hhe Marquis of Lansdowne, expressed in a letter to the Daily Telegraph, Ethe recent speech of Chancellor won EHertIing marks perceptble advance Hn peace discussions. Lord Lans- tdowne thinks it all the more remark vabIe because the speech may be re- ssarded as al kind of a rejoinet to the depressing announcement recently anade-somes sof us think rather gra- stuito1sN-by the Versailles confer enee.'
 Lord IAansdowne notes that the German chancellor regarded the speech made by Viscount Milner on February 15 as more conclllatory Khan that made recently by Walter Runciman, former president of the board of tradeaand, Lansdowne seems. by implication to agree with Count von Hertling.
 Four points of Won HertlinS's speech are selected by Lord Lans- downe for comment. First IS the chancellor's wish for an intimate meeting of che belligerentS Lord Iansdowne interprets this to rlean q small informal meeting not Of plen- fpotentiaries but of persons author Ized to discuss confidentially the pos sibility of a more formal conference. He refers approvingly to the opinion of Foreign Secretary Balfour that 1t would be unwise to begin negotia- tions unIes some preliminary agree ment exists. and asks how such preliminary agreement IS to be reached without preliminary corver- sations.
 Lord Lansdowne TemarkS that AL lied spokeSmen' now are SterthY rep robating Germany's crimes and are submitting demands which are not likely to be conceded until Germany Is beaten to her, knees, while German epokesmen are putting forward mad fnissabIe demands and imputing self i,h and aggressive aims to the Allies. He continues:
 sTn these circumstances it seems at first sightRf that there is nothing for it but what Count von Hertiing calls 'adherence to the existing method of dialogue across the channel and the eceaus dialogues .whichs after all, may be useful
 Hope in Wilson's Basis.
 The second point is Von Hertlng'S S admission that peace~can be discussed on the basis of President Wilson s go,,r principles. This, says Lord
 
 goes but he maintains that we arc erxtffhed to scrlHinize the manner in which these principles have been ap~ piled by Germany
 The third pointTis the >chanceIlor Hssurance that he would greet loy- SurHvsand 'cooperates gladly with an Impartial court, of international afpl- Eration He, says this staten1ent~m1y be welcomed and recalls that Mir Balfour made q assimiiar utte-ance.
 The fourth point is Won Hertling's s fntimation that Germany does not think of retaining Belgium, together with the chanceltor's references to Rha Papal note and to~the- utilization of Belgium jumptng-of ground for f5ermany's enemies Lord I4ansdowne admits that, read in the light of other szerrnaan utterances, this leans to the trfarence that the chancellor conten - w,lated the imposition upon Belgium nT +arms which would interfere with k,er fndependence, but he points out shat the material passage in the Pa oa1 note. upon which Won Herthng nrparently relies. insists that Ger Snanv evacuate Belgium and suarante her full political and mlfttHy aud economic power, adding t1sEI 1T such p euarantee is really all the cf1ancei- Apr requires 1t ought uob |o "~ @ cult to satisfy him.
 "Let us hope that in the" course of the dialogue which will ~doHpties5S he continued he will tell uS' whetfei this is his meaning orr whether Wnolis different designs, not hr,1ted Tn Nis Papal note, were his mind. Thls point requires clearing up because Il Count von Hertling's overture hs1e been turned down this has been IT great measure due to the fnterpreta- ton placed upon his reference to Bel gium, With an international court en operation, there would not be SC much likelihood of any abuse of the sovereignty of Belgium as von Hert- ling apprehends.'
 Up to this point Lord bansdownt goes on, he is unable to see why in innate discussions cannot take place for there is a basic agreement, h' says, upon President Wilson's princl ples, the need of an internatlona tribunal and also, he believes, re gaYdiug Belgium. He contends th2