The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-11

agreement OF the one field without ac-
cording it in the other | take it Tor
granted that he sees that separate and
selfish compacts with regard to trade
and the essential materials of manufac-
ture would afford no foundation for
peace. Neither, he may rest assured,
will separate any selfish compacts with
regard to provinces and peoples.
Count Czcrnin seems to see the funda-
mental clements OF peace with clear eyes
and does not seek to obscure them. He
sees that an independent Poland made
up of all the indisputaby Polish 'peo-
: pies who lie contiguous to enc another
/ is a matter Of European concern and
must Of course be conceded. that Bel
gium must be evacuated and restored no
matter what sacrifices and concessions
that may involve; and that national
aspirations must be satisfied even within
his own empire in the common interest
of Europe and Of mankind. Ii he j. 81
lent about questions which touched the
Interest and purpose of his allies more
nearly than they touch those Of Austria
only il must, of course be because he
feels constrained, | suppose, to defer Ia
Germany and Turkey in the circum-
stances. Seeing and conceding as he
does the essential principles involved
and the necessity of candidly applying
them he naturally feels that Austria
can respond to the purpose OF peace u,
expressed by the United States with les,
embarrassment than could GERMANY HI
would probably have gone much farther
had it not been for the embarrassment
of Austrias alliances and of her de
pendence upon Germany. After all tn,
/. test of whether ii is possible for cthe
government To go any further in thi,
comparison OF views Is simple and oh
yious. The principles to be applied ar,
these:
First, that each part Of the final set
Element must be based upon the essen
tial justice Of that particular case an,
/; upon such adjustments Is are most ll<el,
to bring a peace that will be permanent
Second, that peoples and provinces ar
not to be bartered about from sovereignt'
to sovereignty as if they were mer
chattels and pawns in game even til
great game HOW forever discredited o
the balance OF power; but that,
Third. every territorial settlement in
yoved in this war must be made in III
interest and for the benefit of the popula
lions concerned and not as part of an
mere adjustment or compromise G
claims among rival states and,
Fourth, that all well-defined nationa
0 aspirations stall be accorded the utmoe
g satisfaction that can he accorded thel
7 without introducing new or perpetuatin
5 old elements Of discord and Antagonist
Y that would be likely in time to hrea
the peace of Europe and consequent
d of the world
$ A general peace erected upon sue
e foundat .ons can be discussed mt
IS such Il peace can be secured we have l
If choice but to 90 on. SO far a. we ca
i Judge these principles that we regard
IS fundamental are already everywhere a
'e cepted as imperative except among Il
I'd spokesman of military and annexation
to party in Germany. If they have an
ne where else been rejected the obecto
lie have not been sufficiently numerous
L influential to make their voices audib
The tragical circumstance is that III
N one party IN Germany is apparently wi