T^o Scholars^ Writers^ and Artists 



methods by which it has been carried on (matters of great 

 importance but not relevant to our present purpose and con- 

 cerning which the undersigned maintain very definite but 

 somewhat varying, opinions), we unite in the hope that there 

 may be devised means of bringing the conflict to a speedy end 

 in an honorable and lasting peace. To this end we urge you 

 to work toward some form of truce which will enable repre- 

 sentatives of the warring nations and of the neutral nations 

 to come together at The Hague for a rational discussion of 

 their differences and a settlement which shall be just and fair 

 and therefore permanent. 



The American people is pledged to ideals of peace and law. 

 Our nation has recently entered into an agreement with about 

 thirty sovereign states to submit any difficulties that may in 

 the future arise to a high commission for preliminary investiga- 

 tion, leading to a court of arbitration. Imbued with the con- 

 viction that an appeal to violence and force as a means of 

 settling difficulties among nations is incompatible with the ideals 

 of modern civilization, we would urge in the most emphatic 

 manner, to those who have asked for our sympathy, that in 

 order to secure it they should exert their influence to induce 

 their respective governments to accept the suggestion here set 

 forth. 



Make the attempt to induce the European governments to 

 settle their diff^erences by an appeal to methods that are in 

 conformity with the spirit of the age. The nation which refuses 

 to accede to such an appeal, made in the name of suffering 

 humanity, must bear the grievous responsibility of unneces- 

 sarily prolonging the war, a responsibility scarcely less than 

 that involved in bringing it on. 



Morris Jastrow 

 David Starr Jordan 

 Edwin Grant Conklin 

 Joseph Swain 

 Philadelphia, 

 November 6, 1914 



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