The Sentinel=record., 1918-08-01
LANSDOWN ISSUES
 ANOTHER KAISER LETTER
CONSISTS LARGELY OF cRlTl. Cism OF ALLIES FOR FAIL
 URE TO STATE WAR AIMS.

a conference of his supporters today. This latest utterance proposes no new policy; it consists largely of criticism of the allies for their fail ure ot state their war aims more specifically and urges them to talk, advantage of any opportunity for discussion.
 The chief importance of Lord Lansdownes letter is that he is the first British statesman of first rank who is listed in his own country and abroad, whether correctly or other wise, as pacificist and his words will be given the greatest publicity in the countries of the central DOW CTS. where 1t is insisted they repre- sent a powerful portion of British thought.
 Earl Beauchamp presided over inc conference, and Baron Buclomaster. former lord chancellor, and few pacfficist members of the lords and commons attended A sympathetic letter from Arthur Henderson, the labor leader in the house of com mons, was read
 Lord Buckmaster said:
 My complaint is that whenever a reasonable suggestion of peace is made on the part of Germany it is always rejected in this country on the ground that it is insncere. The people still insist that all offers be made public"
 The new Lansdowne letter has been alphabetically received in pon- tical circles. The general parlia- mentary opinion is said to be well summarized in the comment of one members of the house of commons. The letter is an elongation of Ians- downe's previous pronouncement, but it is an eiongation leading nowhere.
 "Sooner than accept dishonor- able peace" he says, we are all
 ready to fight on to the bitter end. f"
 He dwells on the tragic loss of life and declares that the desire for peace is widespread among the enemy na- tions.
 What is 1t that stands in the way :? he asks. 1t is with no desire to en- oarrass the government that 1 ask the question. But many of us are sorely perplexed and feel 1t our duty to give them a chance of affording
 us some measure of reinsurance and enlightenment.
 There is in the first place, I am | convinced, a deep seated desire for further explanation as to the condi- tions of which we are prepared. not
 to make peace, but to open a dis cussion which might lead to peace. Tt is assumed that such discus sion cannot be commenced without some measure of preliminary agree
 ment and our leading statesmen con - l s:an:ly bid lis congi attiiate ourselves because althouh our enemies have refused to define their terms, we are supposed to have defined ours in un- mistakagle language. Has it been really unmistakable? Is it really tine case that we have done all that can se expected in the way of definition of such points?"
 Lord Lansdowne admits that the difficulty of formulating such a list are serious.
 We have to face problems, politi- cal, racial and geographical of sur prising intricacy," he continues There Is a temptation to use vague language and broad generali- ties, and slide over awkward dues- tions. But what has been the use of our inter-allied conferences and the meetings of the imperial cabinet ii there has been no coordination of our aims?"
 Lord Lansdowne refers to the pre- mier's speech of January 5th as being
 regarded as the most authoritative recital of the allies war aims.
 Though lengthy and elaborate. Y"
 he says, it is at some points per haps inevitably wanting In precision The people are asking whether it still holds the field, whether all the demands comprised in it are !n the same plane and whether no conver- sation can be commenced until the central powers have signified their acceptance of the whole of them
 Declaring that there had been other striking statements. he writes:
 ''The most remarkable of these Is President Wilson's Fourth of July speech--remarkable both for what it contained and what it omits It de wives additional importance from the fact that our own prime minister i'm mediately and whole heartedly adopt ed it.
 "lt is picture drawn by great master of the golden age to which we are bfdden to look forward to. It does not seem, however. to provide those who are in search of basis for pre- liminary negotiations with the kind of ground work after which they are striving