PREMATURE PEACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1677, 20 February 1917, Page 2

PREMATURE PEACE.

THE dangers of a premature peace were recently discussed by Dr. Moe, the permanent secretary of the Nobel Peace Institute. Dr. Moe believes, not in peace at any cost, but a peace based upon rigid, justice, and respect for nationalities. It was impossible to deny that the fate, of several minor Stales depended on the endurance of the allies; therefore the disposition of some neutrals to establish peace at any cost was disgraceful. All neutrals ought to understand (hat a premature peace based on the present war map and with oblivion for all the hardshi, >s indicted by Germanv would look like taking up a position in favour of German interests. Such a, peace would bo illusory and full of the germs of future wars. He stated that he had just received letters from the International Peace Bureau tit Berne, expressing agreement with his view that the task of neutral States was to maintain an increasing vigilence on behalf of international law. Dr. Moe is convinced that no peace organisation strong enough to guarantee a lasting peace can be established in the immediate future. Prominent members of the Institute of International Law, like M. Louis Benault, the first international authority in this domain, and Sir John Macdonald, agreed that (he American plan of a league having power to enforce peace was neither possible nor desirable, A Military Peace League would only make the group system permanent, binding Stales to military preparations, and threatening them with future wars. Minor States like those of Scandinavia would become vassals to the commanding Powers, and their obligation to take part in the execution of military or economic decisions would be dangerous to (heir national existence. The efforts to establish a premature peace rested on such an insecure basis that they would, if successful, be fatal to Europe. Dr. Moe concluded by saying that moreover in British and French circles the adhesion of Germany to such a league would be regarded as being influenced by a design, under the mask of peace, to secure eventual German territorial conquests.