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Show APPEAL FOR PEACE IS SENT BY SECRET COURIER TO WILSON Noted' English Pacifist Entrusts to Young Woman Plea Voiced "In the Name of Europe.1'' By International News Service. N. EW YORK, Dec. 22. A remark .able plea for peace, voiced ''in the name of Europe" and contained con-tained in an open letter to President Presi-dent "Wilson written on thin paper so as tb evade the censor by Bert rand Russell, England 's foremost philosopher and mathematician, is bing carried to Washington on the midnight train to be personally handed to the president by a special committee of the American neutral conference committee. The letter was handed by Mr. Russell in Loudon to a confidential agent, a young woman connected with the American Amer-ican neutral conference committee, and was delivered to that body during a session today at the Astor hotel. Thinks Deadlock Certain, Asserting that victory for either side is impossible, and that "our militarists"' militar-ists"' are the only ones responsible- for a continuation of the conflict, Mr. Russell Rus-sell appeals to President Wilson to use his influence in bringing about peace. Mr. Russell is a grandson of Lord John Russell. By his continued frank criticism since the outbreak of the war, he lias frequently incurred the ill will of the English government, and was forbidden for-bidden to come to America to deliver a series of lectures at Harvard. His letter, let-ter, when read at today's session of the American neutral conference committee, produced a profound impression, and three members George Foster Peabody, Professor Emily Greene Balch and Paul Kellogg were appointed to carry the document to Vash ington. The letter reads: Sir You have an opportuntty of performing a signal service to mankind, man-kind, surpassing even t lie service of Abraham Lincoln, great as that was. It is In your power to bring tho war to an end by a just peace, which should do all that could possibly be done to allay the fear of new wars in the near future. It is not yet too Into to save Euro-j Euro-j pcan civilization from destruction; but it may be too late if the war is allowed lo continue for the further two i or three years with which our militarists mili-tarists threaten us. The military situation has now developed de-veloped to a point where the ultimate issue is clear in its broad outline to all who are capable of thought. It must be obvious to1 the authorities in all the belligerent countries that no victory for either side is possible. In Europe the Germans have the advantage; advan-tage; outside of Europe and at sea the allies have the advantage. Must Confer in End. Neither side is able lo win such a crushing victory as to compel the other side to sue for peace. The war inflicts untold injuries upon the nations, na-tions, but not such injuries as to make a continuance of fighting impossible. It is evident that however the war may be prolonged negotiations will ultimately have to take place on the basis of what will be substantially the present balance of gains and losses and will result in terms not very different from those which might be obtained now. The German government has recognized recog-nized this fact and lias expressed its willingness for peace on terms which ought to be regarded at least as according ac-cording a basis for discussion, since they concede he points which Involve the honor of the allies. The allied governments have not had the courage to acknowledge publicly pub-licly what they cannot deny in private, pri-vate, that the hope of a sweeping victory is one which can now be scarcely entertained. For want of this courage, they are prepared lo involve Europe in the horrors of a continuance continu-ance of the war, possibly for another two or three years. Situation Intolerable. This situation is intolerable to every humane (nan. You, sir, can put an end to it. Your power constitutes an opportunity and a responsibility; and from your previous actions I feel confident con-fident that you will use your power with a degree of wisdom and humanity human-ity rarely to be found among statesmen. states-men. In all the belligerent countries, soldiers sol-diers who are wounded or home on leave express an utter loathing of the trenches, a despair of ever achieving a military decision and a terrible longing for peace. Our militarists have successfully opposed the granting of votes to soldiers, sol-diers, yet in all the countries an effort ef-fort is made to persuade the civilian population that war-wearinesn is con- (Contlnued on Page Thirteen.) APPEAL FGR PEACE IS SENT TO PRESIDENT . . L (Continued from Page One.) fined tn. the soldiers of., the enemy. Everywhere friends of peace are met with the diabolical argument that the brave men who have died must not have shed their blood in vain. And so every impulse of mercy toward the soldiers who are still living is dried up and withered by a faise and barren bar-ren loyalty to those who are past our help. Even the men hitherto retained re-tained for makinar munitions, for dock labor and for other purposes essential to the prosecution of the war are gradually being drafted into the armies and replaced by women, with the veiled threat of colored labor in the background. There is a very real danger in that. Tf nothing is done to check the fury of national passions, European civilization civil-ization as we have known it will perish per-ish as completely as it perished when Rome fell before the barbarians. General Desire for Peace. From considerable personal experience, experi-ence, reinforced by all that I can learn from others. I believe that the desire for peace is almost universal, not only among the soldiers, but throughout the waee-earning classes and especially in industrial districts, in spite of high wages and steady embloyment. If a plebiscite of the nation were taken on the question whether negotiations should be initiated, initi-ated, I am confident that an overwhelming over-whelming majority would be in favor of this course and that the same is true of France, Germany and Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary. If the German government, as now seems likely, would not, only restore conquered territory, but also give its adherence to the league to enforce peace or some similar method of settling set-tling disputes without war, fear would be allayed mid It is almost certain that an offer of mediation from you would give rise to an irresiFtihle movement in favor of negotiations. But the deadlock is such that no near end of the war is likely except through the mediation ot" an outside power and such mediation can come only from you. Compelled to Speak. So)ne may ask by what right I ad-drei ad-drei you. I have no formal title; I am not part of the machinery of government. I speak only because T must; because other?, who should i have remembered civilization and human hu-man brotherhood, have allowed themselves them-selves to be swept away by national passion; because I (tin compelled by their apostasy to speak in the name of reason and mercy, lest it should be thotmht Hint no one in Europe remembers re-members the work which Europe has done and should do for mankind. Like the rest of my countrymen I have desired ardently the victory of t;te allies; like them I Iimvc suffered when victory has been delayed. While nil who have power in Europe speak for what they falsely believe In he the interests of their separate nations. I am compelled by a profound conviction con-viction to speak for all the nations in the name of Europe. In the nnme of Europe I appeal to you to bring us peace. UERTUAND RUSSELL. Pee. t. l!Uti. |