Mr. Wickham Steed suggested recently that the United States might
make some collateral peace move- ment that would ease the naval dispute. Describing this plan in the Observer a fortnight ago, he said that he had in mind an American Peace Doctrine which would match the Monroe Doctrine as a cardinal principle of American pOlicy.. The Peace Doctrine would provide that if any nation went to war without submitting its case to conciliation or arbitration, and if other countries banded themselves together to restrain that nation,- the United States would not aid it in any way. All trade with America, all American money, all access to American resources, 'would be cut off from the aggressor. No nation could carry on war on the grand scale without sooner or later failing through want of American help in materials or money. This • plan would not commit the United States to the League, but it would enormously reduce the dimensions of the international peace problen. It would involve no alliance, no treaty. It is well worth consideration by 'Ainericans, as we believe many of then are perceiving. * * * *
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