Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-31
CHAPTER XVIII
Continued
Thoughts of Mediation

Early in May, 1916, the presiden
Ind had conferred regarding tn
situation and had dis
cussed the possibility of our suggest
ng to both sides that they conside
he United States as q mediating IN
duence to bring about a settlement
Early in May, 1916, had addresse
he following letter to the presiden
With reference to the matter:
The White House, Washington,
May 16, 1916.
My Dear Governor:
AS have discussed with you
on frequent occasions, it seems
to me that the time is now at
hand for you to act in the mat
ter of peace. The mere process
Of peace negotiations, may ex-
tend over a period of months.
Why should we wait until the
moment of exhaustion before
ever beginning a discussion?
Everybody admits that the re-
sources of the nations involved
cannot last through another
year without suffering of an
untold character. 1t is now
May. Let us assume that ev-
erybody accepts your offer. 1t
would be physically impossible
10 get commissioner from vari,
Gus parts of the world; including
Japan, in less than two months
Then the discussion would per-
haps last until the fall, no mat
ter what conclusion might be
reached. Therefore, allowing
for the time that might be con-
sumed in persuading all the par
ties that the time is now ripe,
the whole business will require
almost q year in itself, during
which time the hostilities would
be continuing, and certainly the
chance Of getting a truce would
be better after the discussion
had been in progress for some
time. Similarly, as the time for
the winter campaign approached,
the inducement to agree on a
truce on any terms would be-
come more powerful each day,
Let us look at it from the
point of view of postponement.
If we waited until the fall and
lHS negotiations SLCllCo ouI
through the winter, the tempta-
ton for making new drives in
the spring. with the preparations
made throughout the winter,
would incline the militaristic ele-
ment in the various countries in
volved to block peace negotia-
! tions. It seems, therefore, that
the time to act is now when
these drives are spending their
force.
AS to the procedure:
1t seems that no belligerent
should be put in the position by
your note OF weakening or of
suing for peace, for we must
keep in mind the pride and sensi-
bilities Of all. The initiative must
be ours-to all nations, on equal
terms. One way to do this
would be to send q note, saying
that from the German note and
from statesmen representing the
entente powers the government
of the United States assumes
that the belligerent powers are
willing at least to discuss sug-
gestions for peace, each only re-
serving to itself liberty of &C.
ton. The United States can,
therefore, announce that it is
willing to meet at The Hague a
commission sent by the respec-
tive governments to discuss
means for making peace, and for
ternationaf tribunal to safeguard
~ L. IL
close Of the war.
In the .latter-namely. world
peace-the United States has a
direct interest. The United
States can in the note, assume
that commissioners will meet
with it and hopes to be advised
if there is any feeling to the
contrary.
My idea is to go ahead with
the plan on the theory that all
the belligerents are in acscord
with the idea, so that in answer
ing our note they will not have
accepted anything but our pro-.
posals to discuss, first, the sug-
gestion of peace, and, secondly,
the idea of a world court.
me president SuOulU say III
order to elicit the sympathy of
the world and mankind in gen
eral, that the note of the United
States, suggesting meeting
between the powers will be
made public within a few days
and after it's receipt by the re-
spective powers. This will give
each government not only its
own public opinion to reckon
with, but the public opinion of
the civilized world. The nation
that objects to a discussion of
peace will by no means be in an