The Commoner
OCTOBER, 1915
The Peace Mission
Mr. Bryan's reply, given at Washington, D. C,
September 18, 1915, to the committee represent
ing a number of foreign language newspapers
published in this country and circulated among
the foreign born element:
Gentlemen:
I appreciate very much the honor you do me
in suggesting that I visit Europe in the interest
of peace. During the last three months this sug
gestion has come to me from several sources, but
heretofore it has come from individuals who felt
only a general interest in the subject. I appre
ciate the reasons which give to you a special in
terest in the restoration of peace. In the first
place the foreign born citizens of this country
share personally in the sorrow caused by the
ravages of war among their relatives and inti
mate friends in the countries of their birth. Then,
too, they feel more acutely than the native born
the antagonisms which have been aroused in
this country by expressions of sympathy sym
pathy which, quite naturally, goes out toward
the countries from which they come. This situ
ation must continue to embarrass them while the
war lasts and they, therefore, long for the re
turn of that unity of feeling which existed before
the war broke out and which will come again
when peace is restored. The foreign born ele
ment of this country also understands from ex
perience the heavy burden which the policy of
preparedness has thrown upon European nations,
and can not fail to note the use Tvhich is being
made of the war to support the demand for
larger expenditures on the army and navy. These
special reasons explain the eagerness with which
the members of your committee, and those whom
you represent, look forward to the end of this
unhappy conflict.
I need not assure you that I share your desire
for peace and am willing to do anything in my
power to hasten it. The service that any one
person can render in such a matter is, of course,
small, but each one is in duty bound to do what
lie can, and I am willing to do my part. Whether
it is wise for ine to undertake a trip to Europe
is a question which I am not now prepared to
decide and I am sure you will allow me to take
the matter under advisement. Even if it is im
possible to exert any influence towards the hast
ening of peace, a trip to the neutral countries
might give me information that I could use in the
work which lies before 'ua here, namely, the
maintaining of neutrality and the prevention of
a preparedness that provokes rather than pre
vents war.
It is possible also that I might contribute
something towards the extension of tho peace
plan to which our country is committed, and to
which I confidently look upon as a powerful in
fluence for the prevention of war. Among the
thirty nations that have already entered into
these treaties, are four of the belligerent na
tions, namely. Great Britain, France, Russia and
Italy. The fact that we have treaties with these
nations enables us to carry on our diplomatic
disputes with them without any of the sensa
tionalism that has attended our correspondence
with Germany. Germany, Austria and Belgium
have endorsed the principle, but have not yet
signed treaties. As this treaty plan was offered
to all the nations and has not been withdrawn,
I take it for granted that our government would
gladly enter into treaties with Germany, Austria
and Belgium similar to the" treaties wo have with
the other countries, and such treaties would si
lence the jingo press and, to a large extent, re
move the excuse which has been used for the
propagation of the doctrine of greater prepared
ness. Having great faith in the plan and having
negotiated the other treaties, I might be able to
present the case more strongly in personal in
terviews than I was able to do by diplomatic cor
respondence, and now that the advantages of
these treaties have been made more apparent it
is possible that Germany, Austria and Belgium
might be willing to enter into such treaties. I
mention these as matters worthy of considera
tion and shall myself give them weight in reach
ing a conclusion.
If I decide to go it will be, as already indicated,
at ray own expense, and, not as the spokesman
of any special group, but rather as the repre
sentative of the peace sentiment of the United
States which includes a vast majority of our
people. If I go It will not be as a partisan of
either side, but as one friendly to all, with free
dom to go wherever it seems best to go, and tc
say whatever it seems wise to say, with a view
to contributing to our own nation's security and
toward the peace of tho world.
COST OP WAR TO T1IK WHOLE WORLD
$52,500,000,000
A London cablegram, under date of Sopt 25,
follows: Chancellor McKonna's remarkable fig
ures on tho cost of the war to England, total
ing over $7,900,000,000 and $10,000,000,000 In
dead weight by March next, are ccllpsod by tho
estimate of tho cost of the war to tho world put
forth by Edgar Cramraond, one of England's
most noted statisticians.
His figures are based on such authorities as
Henri Masson, of Belgium; Yves Guyot, of
Franco; Monsieur Barriol, of Russia; von Ron
ault and Riesser, of Germany, and tho Austrian
minister of national dofenso.
Ho gives for tho first year of war the direct
cost at $17,000,000,000 and $50,000,000,000,
the direct and indirect cost to tho belligerents.
On tho same estimate tho cost to dato is ap
proximately $19,500,000,000 and tho indirect
cost $52,500,000,000. Taking the countries se
riatim tho coBt is as follows:
Direct
.$ 185,000,000
2,770,000,000
3,000,000,000
3,540,000,000
4,690,000,000
2,810,000,000
Indirect
$2,450,000,000
5,165,000,000
4,000,000,000
6,400,000,000
13,875,000,000
7,510,000,000
.$
Countries
Belgium
France .
Russia .
England . ,
Germany .
Austria . .
Ho takes no account of Janan. Turkoy and
Serbia.
The cost to the central empires Is. $28, 885,
OOOvfOO. The remainder is chargeable to tho
allies. Property and other losses are estimated
as follows:
Capital
loss
2,000,000,000
1,750,000,000
1,500,000,000
4,400,000,000
Austria 2,500,000,000
Germany's loss includes: Manufactures, $3,
375,000,000, and agriculture, $1,090,000,000.
Tho daily cost to the various belligerents is as
follows:
England, $25,000,000; France, $12,500,000;.
Germany, $22,500,000; Russia, $12,500,000;
Austria, $6,250,000. England's enormous
wealth in investments abroad is expected to
greatly outlast any effort at home or abroad on
the part of Germany.
"But," says Guyot, "in five years this vast
drain on the world's finances is calculated to
put three-quarters of the world In pawn, and
leave the United States as the only solvent nation."
Belgium
France .
Russia .
Germany
t
Property
loss
$1,150,000,000
800,000,000
2,000,000,000
4,450,000,000
5,000,000,000
MR. BRYAN AT DALLAS
Is William Jennings Bryan helping out the
country in keeping tho peace, and is he perform
ing a useful service in the direction of effective
ly helping to subdue the jingo spirit to bo found
in some sections? The opinions of some Dallas
representative citizens may be of interest to Com
moner readers. A reporter for the Times-Herald,
Dallas, was given the following expressions on
. Monday:
General M. M. Crane: "I consider .It exceed
ingly fortunate for this country that Mr. Bryan
arid the president aro In such hearty accord, as
is Indicated by his lecture of Saturday night,
from which one can only judge that there is no
important difference between them. Mr. Bryan
now being out of the cabinet is in a much more
advantageous position to aid the president with
the people than would have been possible had
ho remained in the cabinet. In his lecture I
feel that he has brought to the attention of the
people In a most graphic and convincing man
ner tho horrors of war, and Its terriffic expense.
As I understood Mr. Bryan he Is not opposed to
moderate preparedness, but is opposed to ex
travagant expenditures, and anything that verges
on militarism." jrtr
Otto H. Lang, acting mayor, said: "Mr. Bryan
expressed my views exactly. Preparedness for
tho possibilities of a war Is much more effective
ly accomplished through improving the condi
tions of the masses of our people than through
large expenditures for munitions of war, and ar
mament, to be stored away for a possible use.
It would be vastly better to have good roads, a
creater number of good schools, and things of a
similar nature which will afford our country
greater possibilities for mobilization, and for an
effective, well educated soldiery, than to expend
vast sums for armament I believe Mr. Bryan
Is doing a great service towards counteracting
tho military movement, and Is accomplishing a
work which It Is absolutely necessary somcon
should accomplish. I am glad to note that there
in no apparont break between Mr. Bryan and Umi
president,"
Mr. John J. Blmmonsieays: "I have not always
agreed with Mr. Bryan's political vlows, bat la
this caso I can not soo why ovory patriotic cife
izon should not unqualifiedly endorse his posl
tlon. Mr. Bryan Is moro correct now than 1
any position which ho has taken slnco ho first
made his eutranco into public life. I was de
lighted with tho lecture, which exceeded my ex
pectations. Tho sentiment of universal peace to
a noblo one, and warfaro belongs only to anti
quated ages. It Is a relic of barbarism, and the
people of this country for tho most part, I b
Hovo, rogard It as such."
M. W. Florer, prcsldont Dallas Press club,
says: "I consider tho lecture by William Jen
nings Bryan on Saturday night tho best of any
that I have had tho pleasuro of hearing him de
liver. I am heartily In accord with his viows on
pcaco. He was at his best, and certainly pleased
his audience exceptionally well with his subject.
Tho mombors or our Press club are congratulat
ing themselves at having given to Dallas such
an Interesting and successful affair."
N. T. Blaekwell, editor Cotton Oil News, says:
"I consider It a most masterful plea for peace,
and an unsworablo argument against prepared
ness as urged by tho satellites of thoso who have
battleships and munitions of war for sale. His
resignation from tho cabinet has provon an as
sistance rather than a burden. Ho can serve
tho administration far better by going to the pco
plo with his groat message, than ho could as a
member of tho cabinet."
George McBlair, representing tho Texas Na
tional democratic convention committee, says:
"I am Inclined to the belief that the cordial re
ception which was given Col. Bryan both at
Hillsboro and at Dallas has been gratifying to
tho great Commoner."
IMMIGRATION DECREASES
A Washington dispatch, dated Sept. 25, says:
The United States department of labor has
just issued a statement which shows strikingly
how tho war In Europe has Interfered with Im
migration. During tho fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1915,
tho number of immigrants reaching this country
from Europe was los3 than one-fifth of the num
ber that came during the fiscal year ending June
30, 1014, which was prior to tho war. Tho tide
of immigration from Europe fell lower during
tho last fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1914, which
was prior to the war. The tide of Immigration
from Europe fell lower during tho last fiscal
year than at any time since 1899.
Tho following table shows how European im
migration has sloughed off during tho war pe
riod, the comparison being for tho fiscal year,
1914, and tho fiscal year 1915:
1914 1915
Austria ,. I . .134,831 9,215
Hungary 143,321 9,296
Belgium 5,763 2,395
Bulgaria, Servla and Montenegro 9,189 1,403
France, including Corsica .... 9,290 4,811
German Empiro 35,734 7,79
Italy, including Sicily, Sardinia 263,738 49,088
Russian Empiro and Poland. . .255,660 26,187
Turkey in Europe 8,199 1,008
England 35,864 21,563
Ireland 24,688 14,185
Scotland 10,682 4.66S
Wales 2,183 1,057
Tho total number of Immigrants from all of
Europe during ths fiscal year 1915 was only
197,919," as against 1,058,391 during tho fiscal
year 1914. The number of immigrants from
tho German Empire was only about one-fifth of
the number that came in the year before the war
started, while the immigration from Austria and
Hungary dwindled to about one-sixteenth of its
former volume. England's continued mastery of
the seas Is reflected in the immigration state
ment. Tho unanswerable reply to the contention that
the United States should adopt the Swiss method
of universal military training is that this coun
try Is not so located that It Is necessary for 1U
citizens to be prepared upon short notice to de
fend Its borders from armed invasion by a ne!gk-
bor. 'And without that menace being constantly
before tho people It would be impossible to en
force such an order in a real democracy,
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