Besides, no one should forget that the question: "What nations will be enemies?" depends on political relations, which vary according to unexpected circumstances. Today's enemy may be tomorrow's friend.
The tone, in which of late not only the papers to which we have referred above, but also the newspaper press of the warring nations has written about the enemy, threatens to arouse and to perpetuate the bitterest hatred.
To the evils directly resulting from the war, will be added the regrettable consequence that co-operation between the belligerent nations in art, science, and all other labors of peace will be delayed for some time, nay, even made quite impossible. Yet the time will come after this war, when the nations will have to resume some form of intercourse, social as well as spiritual.
The fewer fierce accusations have been breathed on either side, the less one nation has attacked the[{134}] character of the other: in short, the less lasting bitterness has been roused, so much the easier will it be afterwards to take up again the broken threads of international intercourse.
This rousing of hatred and bitterness is also an impediment in the way that leads our thoughts towards peace.
Every one who in word or writing rails at the enemy or excites national passions is responsible for the longer duration of this horrible war.
Therefore, we the undersigned, appeal to all those of the same mind, especially among those belonging to the warring nations, to co-operate for this purpose: that in word and writing everything be avoided that may rouse lasting animosity.
We especially address this appeal to those who influence public opinion in their own country, to men of science and to artists, to those who long ago have realized that in all civilized countries there are men and women with the same notions of justice and morality as they have themselves.
May the representatives of all countries—according to the saying of a Dutch statesmen—remember what unites them and not only what separates them!
Signed:—H.-c. Dresselhuys, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice, President of the[{135}] N.A.O.R. J.-H. Schaper, member of the Second Chamber, Vice-President. Madame M. Asser-Thorbeke, secretary of the Dutch League for Women's Suffrage. Professor Dr. D. van Embden, Professor of law at Amsterdam. Dr. Koolen, member of the Second Chamber. V.-H. Rutgers, member of the Second Chamber. Baron de Jong van Beek en Donk, Secretary of the N.A.O.R. (and also subscribed to by 130 politicians, intellectuals, and artists, including Frederik van Eeden, Willem Mengelberg, etc.). Office: Theresiastraat, 51, The Hague.