Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-16

rapprochement of conceptions pros
ceeded regarding those guiding lines
upon the basis of which peace shall
be concluded and the future order Of
Europe and the world built UP. In
| this direction President Wilson in his
speeches of February 10 and July
OF this year has formulated principles
winch have not encountered contra
dtctlon on the part of his allies and
the far-reaching application Of which
Is likely to meet with no objection on
/ the part Of the powers of tho quad
! ruple alliance also. presupposing
that this application Is general and
reconcilable with the vital interests Of
the states concerned.
II is true 1t must be remembered that
an agreement on general principles is
lnsumctent. but that there remains
the further matter of reaching an ac-
coro upon their Interpretation and
their application to Individual con-
crete war and peace questions.
| 10 an unprejudiced observer there
| can De no doubt that in all the bel
igerent stato0, without exception, the
aeslre Tor peace of understanding
mas oeen enormously strengthened;
that the conviction is Increasingly
spreading that the further continu-
! ance of the bloody struggle must
transform Europe into ruins and into
I q state of exhaustion that will mar its
development for decades to come, and
| 80 milAouI aAy guarantee OF thereby
bringing about that decision by arms
which has been vainly striven after py
both sides in four years filled with
enormous sacrifices, sufferingS and
exertiOns.
In what manner, however, can the
way be paved for an understandings.
and an understanding finally attained
of reaching this aim by continuinR
the discussion of this peace problem in
the way hitherto followed2
We have not the courage to answe r
! the latter question in the affirmative.
The discussion from one public tri-
bune to another. as has hitherto taken
place between statesmen Of the vari-
| GUS countries, was really only q series
OF monologues. It lacked, above
everything, directness. Speech and
counterspeeeh did not At into each
another's heads.
On the other hand. 1t was the pub
licity and the ground Of these discus
sions which robbed them Of the possi-
bfltty of fruitful progress. In ali pub
| lie statements of this nature q form
| of eloquence is used which reckens
| with the effect of great distances and
ON the masses. Consciously or uncon-
scfously, however, one thereby in
| creases the distance Of the opponents
conception. produces misunderstand-
| ings which take root and are not re-
moved, and makes the frank exchange
of ideas more difficult. Every pro-
nouncement Of leading statesmen is,
directly after Its delivery and before
the authoritative quarters of the OPP
| posite side can reply to 1t. made the
subject of passionate or exaggerated
discussion Of irresponsible elements.
But anxiety lest they should en-
| danger the interests of their arms bv
| unfavorably influencing feeling at
| home. and lest they prematurely be
| tray their own ultimate intentions.
also causes the responsible statesmen
| themselves to strike a higher tone
| and stubbornly to adhere to extreme
| standpoints.
If, therefore, an attempt is made to
! see whether the basis exists for an