The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1918. A DICTATED PEACE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 32, 1 November 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1918. A DICTATED PEACE

The world is sure to hear a good deal about the Peaoe Conferonco in. the near future. The nearer we get to the. end of the war the more urgent becomes the need for forming clear ideas regarding the many dimcult, problems connected with the remaking of the map, the fixing of penalties, and the prevention of future wars. ANew York message which we publish to-day raises a, number of questions. Where will the conference be held'! Who will preside? What principleof representation will be adopted? No official statement has_ yet been made'regarding the constitution of the conference or its methods of procedure. In discussing this vitally important matter the Spectator recently stated that "the assumption that this war must be ended by a Peace Conference of the traditional stamp, with diplomatic representatives of Powers great and small sitting round the council table, has been popular, if not universal." Ai conference of this character would certainly not fulfil .the expectations of the people of New Zealand. _ What right have the neutral nations to be represented? ' The Allies havemade tremendous sacrifices in this war in order to save civilisation and to make the world a'safe place to live in for all law-abiding and peace-loving peoples. They have had to bear-the" almost unbearable strain of the conflict. The price of the coming victory has been, and is being, paid by them in blood and tears and treasure. They have earned the privilege of arranging the terms of settlement. The nations, who have played the part of onlookers during the struggle have no_ reasonable ground for complaint if their assistance is not requested or required when the time comes for fixing the conditions of peace. _ The Allies had to wage the war without their help and without their help the Allies will make,- the peace.

It may bo contended that history provides precedents for the representation of neutrals at peace conferences, but history also warns us of the danger of such interference. It is true that in the past strong neutrals have insisted upon having .voice and vote at the conference table. Sometimes they were actuated by excellent motives; at other times the honesty of their intentions was very doubtful. "Powerful neutrals'," says the Spectator, "beheld the belligerent? walking away, as it were, limf and exhausted from the and the temptation to profit Ity their weakness was much too 3trong for the neutrals to reject the opportunity of making a bit for themselves." This is how the precedent has been created for the' representation of neutral nations, and there is no convincing reason why such a precedent so created should not be set aside. It is not based on any principle of international law. or natural right, and judged by results in the past there is no reason why the experiment of neutral representation should be repeated. Indeed, there is every reason why it should not be' repeated. The conference should consist solely of' representatives of the Allies..,' The creation of an unwieldy parliament _of _ diplomatists representing all civilised nations would bo a stupendous blunder. Its discussions would be interminable, and it would provide unrestricted opportunities for intrigue and for the open and secret working of all' Borts of sinister influences. That grand failure the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) provides us with an example which we ought not to follow. It has been well said, that that famous congress "offers abundant ■ counsels_ in avoidance, and has put the sign 'No> thoroughfare' over some old and worn-out roads." Subsequent history consists largely of the record of efforts to undo jyhat the Congress of Vienna did. The logical inference to be drawn from statements which have been made by Mb. Lloyd Georqe, Pbesi,dent Wilson, and other, responsible spokesmen for the Allied Powers is that there shall be a dictated peace— not a settlement by conference, compromise, or bargaining. This means that our enemies shall not be represented at the coming peace conference. Germany . still hopes to get a chance of engendering discord at the council table and dividing the Allies, Vorwaerts is cn'deavouring to put fresh hope into the hearts of its readers by telling them that, though Germany has been beaten on the battlefield, sho may play an important part at the peace table. But if it is to be a dictated peace she should have no part to play except to hear tho verdict. When the time comes to arrange the table she will probably find that no place has been laid for her. Tho Allies will not bo so foolish as to allow a German diplomat to play a- part like that played by Talleyrand at tho Congress of Vienna.

Talleyrand (says tho "Spectator") was the representative of tho beaten Power who ought, according to all reason ami logic, to have been kept in an inferior position, but thanks to his supernormal skill ho managed to play off tho Powers against one nnolher. . • ~ Talley-

rand, in fact, dominated the Peace Conference. That is the kind of performance which the Germans devoutly hopo ami intend to imitate if they aro Riven an opportunity of playing at a game of wits in a great unwieldy Pcaco Conference. Jt would bo mad for us to enter into such a trap.

If the Allies do enter into such a trap they will do so with their eyes open. If they be/*in to parley and haggle and bargain with tho enemy they will start upon a- very slippery road, full of pitfalls and other perils. If they aro wise tho Allies will oonsult with nobody but them-

solves. They _ are quite able to settle the conditions of a permanent peace in accordance with the dictates of impartial justice without the assistance either of neutrals or of our enemies.