The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-09
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS-:

GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS-:
Once more, as repeatedly before.
the spokesmen of the Central En-
pires have indicated their desires to
discuss the objects of the war and
the possible basis of a general peace.
Parleys have been In progress at
Brest-Litovsk between Russian rep
resentatives and representatives OF
the Central Powers to which the
attention Of all the belligerents has
been invited for the purpose Of as
certaining whether 1t may be pos
sible to extend these parleys into
general conference with regard to
terms Of peace and settlement.
The Russian representatives pre-
sented not only a perfectly definite
statement Of the principles upon
which they would be willing to con-
clude peace, but also an equally
definite programme Of the concrete
application Of those principles. The
representatives Of the Central Pow
ers, on their part, presented an out
line Of settlement which. u much
less definite, seemed susceptible Of
liberal Interpretation until their spe-
cific programme Of practical terms
was added. That programme pro-
posed no concessions at all. either to
the sovereignty Of Russia or to the
preferences of the population with
whose fortunes II dealt, but meant,
in a word. that the Central Empires
were to keep every foot Of territory
their armed forces had occupied
every province, every city, every
point Of vantage-as a permanent
addition to their territories and their
power. 1t IL a reasonable conjecture
that the general principles OF settle
ment which they at first suggested
originated with the more liberal
statesmen Of Germany and Austria.
the men who have begun to feel
the force Of their own peoples
thought and purpose. while the con-
crete terms Of actual settlement
came from the military leaders who
have no thought but to keep what
they have got. The negotiations
have been broken OF. The Russian
representatives were sincere and in
earnest. They cannot entertain such
proposals OF conquest and domina-
ton.
Significance In Parlcys.
The whole incident is full OF sig
nificance. 1t Is also full Of perplexity.
With whom are the Russian repre-
sentatives dealing? For whom arc
the representatives Of the Centra.
Empires speaking? Arc they speak
ing for the majorities of their re-
spective parliaments, or for the mi
nority parties. that military and I'M
perialistic minority which has so far
dominated their whole policy and
controlled the affairs OF Turkey and
the Balkan States, which have felt
obliged TO become their associates
In this war? The Russian represen-
tatives have insisted, very justly.
very wisely and in the true spirit
Of modern democracy. that the con-
ferenccs they have been holding
with the Teutonic and Turkish
statesmen should be held within
open. not closed, doors and all the
NoTiu HAS pteH duuleli'e, as Nus
desired.
To whom have We been listening.
then? To those who speak the
spirit and intention OF the rcsolu :
tons Of the German Reichstag OF
the 9th OF July last. the spirit and
intention Of the Liberal leaders and
parties of Germany. or to those who
resist and defy that spirit and in
tention and insist upon conquest
and subjugstion? or Are We listen
ing, in fact. to both. unreconciled
and in open and hopeless contradic-
ton? These are very serious and
pregnant questions. Upon the an
swer to them depends the peace OF
the world.
But whatever the results OF the
parleys at Brest-Litovsk, whatever
tho confusions OF counsel and oi
purpose in the utterances OF the
spokesmen of the Central Empires
they have again attempted tC
acquaint the world with their objects
in the war and have again chal-
lcnged their adversaries to say What
their objects are and what sort o.
settlement they would deem just ant
satisfactory There is no gooc
reason why that challenge SHOULD
not he resDOnded tn and resnonde(