uld have
been the right thing, even if it had offended in
some way against the rules of diplomatic
procedure. Under so exceptional circumstances as
these occasioned by the present war extraordinary
steps are certainly justified and breaches of
etiquette of little significance. But the note was
faultless in this respect, and it can moreover be
said that in no way did it endanger legitimate
interests of the one or the other section of the
belligerents. It offends only in spirit against
Cain's word, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and in
distinct words against the conception that war is
a private affair of states may it ever so much
interfere with the material and moral welfare of
other nations.

The step has not at once succeeded. But it has
opened the way; nay, it has forced the door open
for discussion in a fashion that nobody will be
strong enough to shut it again. True, the Central
Powers have by their offer of peace negotiations
forestalled the note by a week. But this offer
would have come to naught without Mr. Wilson's
action. Harsh as the reply of the Allies is to the
offer, it would most likely have been put in much
more negating terms had not the American note
caused the Entente Allies to avoid a blunt "No"
and content themselves with raising objections and
interjecting accusations. By this they have
willy-nilly provoked a debate and instead of
shutting the door kept it well open.

People may call this a small success. In fact it
is a beginning, and for the first as such
sufficient. The question is now what shall the
next step be and how can the debate be directed to
positive proposals?

Of course, as these articles were given by this Socialist-Author
for publication any one is at liberty to reproduce them.

In conducting the peace negotiations, President Wilson will have
the benefit of the services of Colonel House, the one man who, I
believe, is best fitted to protect the interests of America and
of humanity at such a conference. I, of course, saw Colonel House
during the war in Berlin and in America and I consider that no
man alive is his superior in either knowledge of the whole
situation or in ability to cope with the trained diplomats of
Europe. Human nature is much the same and the gentle mannered
Texan who has been so succe