New Britain herald., 1918-09-16

to meet with no objection on the part of the powers of the Quadruple AL lance also, presupposing that this ap- plication is general and reconcile ble with the vital interests of the States concerned.
 Tt is true it must be remembered that an agreement on general princ- ples is insufficient, but that there re- mains the further matter of reaching an accord upon their interpretation and their application to individual concrete war and peace questions
 To an unprejudiced observer there can be no doubt that in all the bellig- erent States, without exception, the desire for a peace of understanding has been enormously strengthened; that the conviction is increasingly spreading that the further continu- ance of the bloody struggle must transform Europe into ruins and into a 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 vainly striv- en after by both sides in four years filled with enormous sacrifices, suf- 1eIIiSS, duu eASElIOuS.
 "In what manner, however, can the way be paved for an understanding, and a understanding finally attained? Is there any serious prospect what ever of reaching this aim by contin- uing the discussion of the peace prob lem in the way hitherto followed?
 we have not the courage to an- swer the latter question in the affirm alive 6jScu SSjOn from one nub- lie tribune to another, as has hither- to taken place between statesmen of the various countries, was really only a series of monologueS. It lacked above everything, directness. Speech and counterspeech did not fit ito each other. The speakers spoke over one another's heads.
 'On the other hand it was the pub licity and the ground of these discus sions which robbed them of the pos sibility of fruitful progress. Tn all public statements of this nature a form of eloquece is used which reckons with the effect at great dis tances and on the masses. Conscious ly or unconsciously, however, one thereby increases the distance of the opponents conception, produces mis- understandings which take root and are not removed, and makes the frank exchange of ideas more difficult. Every pronouncement of leading statesmen is, directly after its deliv- cry and before the authoritative quar- ters of the opposite side can reply to it, made the subject of passionate or exaggerated discussion of irresponsi- ble elements.
 "But anxiety lest they should en- danger the interests of their arms by unfavorably influencing feeling at home, and lest they prematurely be- trav their own ultimate intentions, also causes the responsible statesmen themselves to strike a higher 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 method should be chosen which renders possi- ble a direct, verbal discussion between the representatives of the govern ments, and only between them. The onposinec conceptions of individual bel ligerent states would likewise have to form the subject of such q discussion, for mutual enlightenment, as well as the general principles that shall serve as the basis for peace and the future relations of the States to one another. and regarding which, in the first place an accord can sought with q pros pect of success.
 As soon as an agreement were reached on the fundamental princi- ples. an attempt would have to be made in the course of the discussions concretely to apply them to individual peace questions, and thereby bring about their solution.
 we venture to hope that there will be no objection on the part of any belligerents to such an exchange of views. The war activities would eX- perience no interruption. The discus sions too would only go so far as WAS considered by the participants to