The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-02-14

DE tue dIuCIeS VI peace are HOI IetIIG
led in the same way as items in the
final accounting.
He cannot ask the benefit of COM
mon agreement in the one field with
out according in the other l take il
for granted that he sees that separate
and selfish compacts with regard to
trade and the essential materials OF
manufacture would afford no founda-
ton for peace. Neither he may rest
assured, will separate and selfish com
pacts with regard to provinces and
peoples.
Count Czernin seems to see the
fundamental elements of peace with
clear eyes and does not seek 10 OBJ
scure them. He sees that an independ-
ent Poland, made UP of all the indis-
putably Polish peoples who lie con
tiguous to one another, is matter Of
European concern and must, of course,
be conceded that Belgium must
be evacuated and restored, no matter
what sacrifices and concessions that
may involve; and that national aspira
tons must be satisfied even within his
own empire, in the common interest Of
Europe and mankind.
If he is silent about questions which
touch the interest and purpose of his
allies more nearly than they touch
those Of Austria only, it must, of
course. be because he feels constrain-
ed, | suppose, to defer to Germany
and Turkey in the circumstances. See
ing and conceding, as he does, the es-
-enual principles involved and the
necessity Of candidly applying them.
ne naturally feels that Austria can re-
spond to the purpose of peace as eX-
pressed BY the United States with less
embarrassment than could Germany.
He would probably have gone much
farther had /, not been for the embar-
tassment Of Austria's alliances and Of
her dependence upon Germany
After all, the test of whether it is
possible for either government to 90
any further in this comparison Of views
is simple and obvious. The principles
TO be- applied are these:
"First, that each part Of the final
settlement must be based upon the es-
seu.ial justice of that particular case
and upon such adjustments as are
most likely to bring a peace that vii.
be permanent;
Second. that peoples and provinces
are not to be bartered about from SOW
ereignty to sovereignty as il they were
mere cnattels and pawns in a game.
even the great game, now forever dis
credited Of the balance of power; but
that
Third. every territorial settlement
involved in this war must be made in
the interest and for the benefit OF the
populations concerned, and not as a
aart Of any mere adjustment or com
promise OF claims among rival states,
md.
Fourth. that all well-dehned Ea-
i5uaI aspirations shall be accorded the
utmost satisfaction that can be accord
j them without introducing new or
narpeiua'nE o'd elements OF alscol'
nd an'asonlsm tAat "ooio De nAe's
time TO break the peace Of Europe
ina cons Quen'-Y OF lNe word
"A general peace erected upon such
foundations can be discussed unti
such a peace can be secured We have
no choice but TO go on. 30 Tar as We
can judge. these principles that We re-
EaEd as fundamental are already every
where accepted as imperative except
among the spokesman OF the military
md anneNationist party IN GERMANY
u they have anywhere else been Fe'
.ecied the o2Jec'or- have not been
/ sufficiently numerous or influential TO
make their voices audible.
THE ra@ical circumstance is that
this one party in Germany is apparent
" willing and able 10 send millions Of
men TO their death TO prevent what all
the world now sees to be just
81 would not be a true spokesman
/ OF the people OF tho United States if !
did not say once more that We entered
this war upon no small occasion. and
that we can never turn back from a