representative international commission, supported by international force, presents such a method.

This plan provides security and opportunity for all, eliminates the necessity for the control of trade routes and barriers by any one power, and the opposition to such control by any other. It provides what perhaps no other plan does, an incentive to states to combine. Nations will naturally combine to protect the neutrality of trade routes and the joint regulation of the extension of natural barriers once such neutrality and joint regulation have been secured as the easiest and cheapest method of protection. Commercial alliance appeals where political alliance does not.

The plan involves the yielding of some so-called sovereign rights; but this is more than offset by an ultimate advantage of almost incalculable value. Unless nations are willing to join in a movement for international protection they must continue to compete in expenditures for national defense. There is no half-way ground.

FURTHER STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY

An international commission, permitting the peoples of each nation to govern themselves so long as they do not block the peaceful growth of other nations, but obliging them to coöperate on international policies, could (1) take over certain strongholds and armaments of the nations in exchange for assuming their war debts; (2) regulate the shipping, mailing, cabling, etc., between nations so as to guarantee to all security of intercourse; and (3) have a veto of discriminatory tariffs, immigration restrictions, and other policies of separate nations which lead to war.

Such an international commission, built like the present great republics and getting its income from a uniform tax on trade, would operate along lines suggested by the founders of the League to Enforce Peace

A GERMAN PETITION TO THE REICHSTAG

Four German pacifist organizations, the German Peace Society, the League of the New Fatherland, the National Women's Committee for a Durable Peace, and the Central Organization for the Rights of Peoples, addressed recently to the Reichstag a petition demanding, in view of the situation caused by the Russian revolution, (1) that Germany declare itself ready to conclude a peace with Russia on condition that the rights of Germans in Russia be guaranteed in the same manner as those of other nationals within Russian borders; (2) that the government declare itself willing to complete the offer of peace to Russia of December 12, stating the sanctions it will advocate for a durable peace; (3) that the Reichstag declare for an international organization to maintain peace (a pacific alliance of all nations), and for the limitation of armaments, and (4) that the Reichstag declare itself ready to establish a foreign policy, based on the experiences of this war, which shall avoid the obstacles at present standing in the way of international harmony and coöperation.

[Advocate of Peace, Aug., 1917, p. 244.]

BUND NEUES VATERLAND

[The Bund Neues Vaterland (not to be confused with the Pan-German New Fatherland Society) formed soon after the outbreak of the war, has steadfastly stood for humanitarian ideals and international morality. Its pamphlet "Sollen wir Annektieren " is a powerful protest against annexation as opposed to the best interest even of Germany herself.]

1. Development of international organization.

2. Further development of international law by future Hague conferences.

3. No annexation.

4. No secret treaties.

5. Open door. Freedom of the seas.

[Bourne, Towards an Enduring Peace.]

MANIFESTO OF THE

DEUTSCHE FRIEDENSGESELLSCHAFT

[Professor Ludwig Quidde of Munich, a writer on historical subjects, is most widely known for his book on Caligula, taken to be intended as a covert attack on the Kaiser. He has also written on militarism.]

Notwithstanding the prohibition of the Government, demands for annexation are being more or less publicly advocated. Six large agricultural associations go especially far in these ideas; indeed for one petition signatures are collected among those who because of “their rank and education consider themselves the spiritual leaders of public opinion." This movement has evidently the support of important circles. The worst of this is that those demands are known to the neutrals and to hostile countries, who make them the foundation of their accusations of German desires of conquest. Besides they kindle ill-feeling against Germany, as the Government and the whole German nation are held responsible for all this.

There is no doubt that the Imperial Government is unjustly accused in this respect, whatever may be her attitude towards other questions. Should such tendencies be publicly criticized, then the world would soon see that the greater part of the German nation is strongly opposed to them.

The prohibition to discuss the aims of the war, which is strictly maintained with respect to ourselves, prevents us from criticizing this question thoroughly; and from organizing our opposition to such tendencies.

So far we have gladly obeyed the order not to discuss these

questions. After our experience, however, of the way in which this prohibition and the above-mentioned agitation are exploited abroad to the detriment of German interests, we think it our duty to appeal to the Government to grant "free speech to a free nation."

Until this has been granted, the German Peace Association can do no more than utter a general protest against the danger of such annexation ideas. When such ideas are considered the aim of war, the war will be prolonged indefinitely, for months, perhaps for years. Their realization would not strengthen, but weaken Germany, abroad as well as at home, in peace and in future wars. A new war would be inevitable shortly after such a peace.

The German Peace Association and all friends of the people desire that the military supremacy of the Central Powers, which we hope will decide the peace, shall be turned towards the consolidation of Germany's position in the world, towards the development of the economical and national forces of the German nation. But they hope also, that the coming peace may contain the elements of a durable peace and lay the foundation for a lasting community of justice and culture between the nations, which must be restored after the peace, howsoever bitter their hostility may be at present. The association is convinced that a sensible consideration of the vital interests of the German nation will prevail over empty phrases and private interests, when the conditions of peace shall be drawn up.

L. QUIDDE,

O. UMFRID,
Stuttgart.

[Bourne, "Towards an Enduring Peace."]