The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 26, 1902. LEAGUE FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 350, 26 February 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 26, 1902. LEAGUE FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE.

An American journal lias started an interesting discussion by inviting the leading editors oi Europe to give their opinions on the possibility of forming a league for universal peace. The idea is to promote international good fellowship by refraining from discussions tending to foment hostilities between nations. The question asked of each editor was : “ Would you join a pledge to promote international good fellowship by refraining from discussions tending to foment hostilities between nations, thus, in effect, forming an International Press Amity League '!" Numerous replies were received. “ Tiie idea is in every way admirable and opportune,” replied the editor of the Daily News. Mr Alfred Harmswortli, the editor of the Daily Mail, replied : “ I should be very glad to join such an association oi journalists, though 1 fear the task I they have in hand of educating the people of their various countries in the right direction and bringing pressure to bear on ambitious politicians is much beyond the capacity of a lifetime. 'l'lie newspapers appear to have killed the war disease as effectively as vaccination is said to have allayed small-pox. No doubt they bring their own troubles ; hut so, some say, does vaccination. But it is entirely due to

the press that wars are gradually decreasing in number, and if any effective association of journalists can be formed I will be glad to be one of the peacemakers.” Mr Frederick Harrison replied : “It would be a blessed thing if journalists could be induced to promote international peace and goodwill. 'l’oo many oi them are now engaged in fomenting ill-will between peoples.” The editor of the Star and Morning Leader, Mr Edward Parker, gives the discussion a new turn. He states : “I am cordially in sympathy with the object of the league referred to in your letter of December 25, but I do not think the object can he forwarded by an association of journalists in an organised body. On the contrary, I think the cause of international goodwill would he better served by a clearer recognition by journalists of their individual responsibilities in regard to the momentous questions of peace and war, which they too often handle with a freedom bordering on frivolity.” 'Flic opinions irom Germany arc very interesting, as showing the trend of things there. All who reply give hearty approval of the suggestion, which they say has their sympathy, is praiseworthy, and so on, but is not practicable. Dr Ballerstedt, the editor of the Ncusten Nachrichten, points out that a- newspaper is a business concern, and that in Germany it would not be practical to carry the idea through, He states. “in Germany especially it would be impossible, there are so many fractions and factions here, each with its own politics, each,eager to outbid the other for the favor of the public, each beUevi ig itself to be of the utmost importance and authority in international affairs. We have always sought to ho moderate and fair, and this very attitude, both on the American-Span-ish war q uestiou and now on the South African war, has injured us in the eyes of many who desired us to Uke up a hotter attitude aga.ns America then and England now But something, nevertheless, might he done. Let the editor use his undoubted influence to prevent the telegiaphic agencies—Reuter, Wolff, and the rest—from circulating injurious reports through the wires. Nine-tenths of Die mischief is the work of these telegraphic agencies. Further, let the editor use his influence to counteract the news factories which exist in so many capital cities, both in America and on the Continent, and let him carefully - sift and prove any news bearing 011 international complications before he publishes it to the world. A. league would he useless unless it emb»vv„„d ur c'uiy siiaue of politics, and that is impossible.” The editor of the Vossiche Zeitung, Herrmann Bachmann, shapes his rereply in a concise and effective way, when he says : “ The idea is worthy of all praise, but it would be impossible to reduce it to practice. The German press would never—certainly the Vossiche Zeitung would never consent to limit its liberty in the way indicated. It and every respectable journal refrains from fomenting hostility between one nation and another, on principle. But it is another question to join a league. For example, the Russian Government, supported by the Russian press, might begin a crusade against Germany. Under such circumstances, It might well happen that a hot, sharp article in the German press, against Russia, dragging to light the whole register of Russia’s sins, might do more than anything else for the maintenance of peace. No leading German paper is likely to join such a league.” Dr Bacher, of the Neuc Frcie Presse, advocates passionless discussion, but not absolute silence. “It is,” he states, absolutely impossible to ascertain at First sight what subjects are to he avoided. International complications have arisen from the most insignificant causes ; and again, points in dispute have been peaceably settled that seemed to threaten an unavoidable war. But even were it possible to foresee the consequences of eacli subject in the course of discussion, it would 1 create a serious deficiency in the history of the times were the press simply to ignore them. The editor of ti'O Neucs Wiener Tagblatt, and President of the Central Bureau of the European Press Association, after cordially approving of Die idea, states : “ But I cannot conceal from myself the fact that there is still a very long and thorny patli to follow, on which mistakes of all kinds must lie overcome before this end is reached. I think before a Press- Amity League can be formed there must be a strong current of friendship and sympathy between newspapers. Not until it exists could the aim of peace be striven for in a uniform manner, and frequent and painful dangers be avoided. That newspaper which speaks in favor of peace amongst nations is decried as damaging the feelings and interests of its country. But t-he difficulties, be they ever so great, must prevent no one Rom doing his utmost to make goodness, justice, and magnanimity the reigning international principles. I arid t-lie Neucs Wiener Tagblatt will not fail to be with you when the moment conies for speeding on the dawn of an era of lasting peace among the nations.” 'J'lie editor of the L’lndependence Beige replied : “ Each nation lias the government which it deserves. Great journals which are jea-

lously careful of the high traditions of journalism' are becoming more and more rare, and this is bitterly to be regretted. If the proposed press association becomes an accomplished fact, end can practically attain its object, it will not only have rendered signal public service but it will have restored to the profession of journalism its original prestige, which is so essential to its vitality, but which it is losing more and more every day.” At the Hague it seems that the press is considered a safety valve, for we (hid Dr Kiehl, editor of the Nieuive Courant, replying as follows : “ Let me begin by saying that for the Dutch press the movement is useless, because if we were standing against a great Power our press would naturally take a reserved attitude. Further, in practice it would he of little avail, because giving vent to their feelings in the press relieves the people from doing it in the street. If something is brewing the feeling has to get vent somehow, and it is good that this can be done in the press. I regard it as a safeguard against uproars and hostilities. Again, for the leading international press of Great Powers it would [bo impossible because as soon as national feeling is at stake the press will

forget its promise and express its opinion. Notv, for instance, D’Estourrelles de Constant is a great peace promoter but when France and Turkey disagreed tie said, “ This cannot he settled by Court arbitration ; we must tight it out." Lastly, the idea is not new, It was suggested during the Fashoda incident in the French press.’’ It will be observed that the American journal lias not succeded in drawing out many of the English papers. The editors of those journals usually look askance at the Americans and probably most of them regard the movement as based on advertising. However that may be, it is well to Know the opinions oi foreigners. The fact cannot be overlooked that many papers are simply run for a purpose, and it is no secret that much of the s.old taken by the Boers was used to foment a newspaper crusade against Great Britain,