The Washington herald., 1918-12-29

tcopznsht. 1913. by the Mcclure Newspaper
London. Nov. 2-Amid all the welter
OF opinion, the continued use of gen.
eral phrases whose users have no idea
what they mean. and the existing pub
llc confusion concerning what con-
crete terms OF peace ought to be in
sisted upon. IL Is rare to find calm
statement setting forth without
camouhage a definite peace program
and evading none OF those vital issues
which all statesmen find 1t necessary
to dodge at present.
Accordingly 1 have prepared a fore
cast Of the deinitive treaty of peace.
For what is set down below nobody
but myself bears any responsibility.
All the matters dealt with have dis
cussed at length with informed persons
of the different allied nations. but
when il comes to estimating which of
the many views put forward will pre-
vail " the congress of the world, 1
have used my own Judgment. Ac-
cordingly this story represents merely
the opinion OF a single observer. one
who since LA has studied the issues
involved in the war. il not from a
grandstand seat, at least from a good
perch in the bleachers.
IL VIII be n Wilson Peace.
First, It will be a Wilson peace,
That Is. the basis of whatever is
done will be the fourteen points,
which are now generally accepted,
even in form by the enemy. For
getting their violent objections in
the past, many political groups in
Europe are now prOclaiming that
he Presidents points are political
pIa atitudes. and represent principles
N, no wise invented by Mr.. Wilson.
This is a sign of agreement. 1 pro-
pose to sidestep here the issues OF
disarmament and the league of ma
lions, and consider the changes in
the map Of the world which the
principles laid down by the Presi-
dent and accepted with more or less
sincerity by the whole world must
bring about. dealing with each re-
Elon affected under a separate head
ing.
II any agreement is reached set
ii7F up a league of nations or ar
ranging for disarmament. il will
Come last. But there are certain
general principles upon which the
Peace Conference will probably de-
teFmine to regulate the carrying out
OF the territorial readjustment. and
TO settle certain other questions
which do not come under the head
ings given below. These will in
clude:
To Replacc shipping, Ton for Ton
J. The exaction from Germany OF
ton for ton for shipping destroyed
through the illegal submarine war
fare Germany will not be compelled
to make good the ships sunk by her
surface craft under conditions recog-
nized as legal by international law
but no matter how long IL takes her
shipyards to accomplish their task
they must make good the l2o00 O0t
tons, British, allied and neutral, that
have been put down during the past
for- years by torpedo.
, An International tribunal to try
all persons guilty of offences against
the laws Of humanity. This court will
be 81 constituted as to commend it.
self as impartial to intelligent Ger
mans: among its duties will be the
trial of the murder of Capt Fryatt:
the condemnation of the heads OF
prison camps where barbarities were
executed. and, perhaps, of the men
who condemned Edith Cavell, though
the latter Is a doubtful point. The
French have obtained evidence in
hundreds of cases against individuals
who will be called upon to answer
for their crimes.
secret Diplomacy Doomed.
3. All the governments concerned
will repudiate forever secret treat
les and agreements oA any kind
whatever. and agree that hereafter
no International understanding be-
tween governments shall be binding
until il had been ratified by the
legislatures of the States concerned