Every free man has a right to his own opinion. However, he must never forget that Liberty of opinion does not mean—never meant—absence of knowledge, ignorance of the basic principles of political society.
I do not hesitate to expound what the real conditions of the coming peace MUST BE to make it JUST AND DURABLE.
Let the inveterate opponents of Political Liberty say what they please, it is undeniable that the present war has rapidly developed into a deadly conflict between Autocratic Power and Political Freedom.
Consequently a peace patched up to uphold Autocracy and destroy free institutions could not be Just and Durable.
Under the dominating circumstances of the present struggle, to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion, peace, to be Just and Durable, must be restored with all the necessary guarantees that Political Liberty will hereafter be safe against the foul attempts of military despotism.
This sine qua non condition is general in its nature and equally interests all the contending Allied nations.
Let us now consider the peace conditions which, though of general importance so far as they are NECESSARY for its permanency, are essential from the particular stand-point of each one of the Allies separately.
I shall begin the review by considering the particular case of Great Britain.
To be Just and Durable for the British Empire, the future peace treaty must not be so drafted as to supersede British sea supremacy by that of Germany.
The question of what is to be done with the great German African Colonies, conquered by the South African Dominion army, is next in importance to England's sea supremacy, from the British Empire stand-point.