The Washington times., 1918-09-16

tory basic ideas OF which they
have never given up, signifies, de-
spite the rejection which Is eX-
perienced. an important stage in
: the history of this war. In con-
q trast to the FIRST two and a half
war years, the question Of peace
has from that moment been the
center OF European ave-of world
discussion, and aominates 1t in
ever-increasing measure.
Almost all the belligerent states
have in turn again and again ex-
pressed themselves on the ques-
ton OF peace, its prerequisites
and conditions. The line of de-
velopment OF this discussion, how
ever. has not been uniform and
steady. The basic standpoint
changed under the influence of
the military and political posi-
tion. and hitherto, at any rate. 1t
has not led to a tangible general
result that could be utilized.
Differences Become Less.
II is true that independent OF
all these oscillations it can be
stated that the distance between
the conceptions of the two sides
has, on the whole. grown some
what less; that despite the in
= disputable continuance OF decided
and hitherto unbridged differ
ences. a partial turning from many
of the most extreme concrete war
aims is visible and a certain
agreement upon the relative gen.
eral basic principles OF a world
peace manifests itself. In both
camps there IL undoubtedly OBJ
servable in wide classes OF the
population q growth of the will to
peace and understanding. More
over. a comparison OF the recep-
tiop OF the peace proposal OF the
powers of the quadruple alliance
on the part OF their opponents
with the latter utterances OF re-
sponsible statesmen Of the latter,
as we'll as OF the non-responsible,
but, in a political Respect. nowise
uninfiuential personalities, con-
firms this impression.
While, for example. the reply
OF the allies to President Wilson
made demands which amounted
TO the dismemberment OF Austria
Hungary, to a diminution and a
deep internal transformation OF
the German empire, and the de-
struction of Turkish European
ownership. these demands, the
realization OF which was based on
the supposition OF an overwhelm-
ing victory. were later modified in
many declarations from official
entente quarters, or in part were
dropped.
Thus. in a declaration made in
the British house of commons a
year ago. Secretary Balfour eX-
pressly recognized that Austria
Hungary must itself solve its in
ternal problems. and that no one
could impose a constitution upon
Germany from the outside. Pre-
mier Lloyd George declared at the
beginning OF this year that II was
not one OF the allies war aims to
partition Austria Hungary, to rob
the Ottoman empire OF its Turk
ish provinces. or to reform Ger
many internally. 1t may also be
considered symptomatic that in
December. 1917, Mr. Bslfour cate
gorically repudiated the assump-
ton that British policy had ever
engaged itself for the creation OF
an independent state out OF the
territories on the left bank OF the
Rhine.
The central powers leave it in
no doubt that they are only waS-
ing a war of defense for the in
tegrity and the security OF their
territories.
Refer 10 Wilson's Principles.
Far more outspoken than in the
domain of concrete war aims has
the rapprochement of conceptions
proceeded regarding those guild
ing 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 - and July OF this
year. has formulated principles
which have not encountered con-
tradiction 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 pow
ers Of the quadruple alliance also,
presupposing that this application
is general and reconcilAble with
the vital interests of the states
concerned.
II is true. 1t must be remem-
bered, that an agreement on gem
eral principles is insufficient. but
that there remains the further
matter of reaching an accord
upon their Interpretation and
their application to individual
concrete war and peace questions.
To an unprejudiced observer
there can be no doubt that in all
the belligerent states. without eX-
ceptIon, the desire for a peace of
understanding has been enormous
ly strengthened; that the sonvic-
ton is increasing that the fur
Their continuance OF the bloody
struggle must transform Europe
into ruins and into a state of eX-
haustion that will mar its de-
velopment for decades to come
and this without any guarantee
Of thereby bringing about that
decision by arms which has been
vainly striven after by both sides