they are defeated, would be to leave humanity exposed to the
certain recurrence of the fearful convulsions we are now witnessing.

If anybody can show me any signs that the leaders of Germany are
convinced that there is to be no world empire for Germany or any other
nation, and no despotic Government in Europe, I shall be ready to take
part in any effectual advocacy of peace. Sincerely yours.

CHARLES W. ELIOT.

Jacob H. Schiff, Esq.

Mr. Schiff to Dr. Eliot.

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 1914.

President Emeritus Charles W. Eliot, Cambridge, Mass.

Dear Dr. Eliot:

Your letter of Dec. 3 reached me this morning, and has given me much
food for thought.

I wish I could follow you in the position you have taken, for I like
nothing better than to sit at the feet of a master like you and be
instructed. But, much as I have tried, even before our recent
correspondence was begun, to get at your viewpoint as from time to time
published, I have not been able to convince myself that you occupy a
correct position. Please accept this as expressed in all modesty, for I
know were you not thoroughly convinced of the justice of the position
you have taken from the start you would not be so determined in holding
to it.

I am perfectly frank to say that I am amazed and chagrined when you say
that you feel strongly that the war ought to go on until the Allies
have arrived at attacking Germany on her own soil, which, if this is at
all likely to come, may take many months yet, and will mean sacrifice of
human life on both sides more appalling than anything we have seen yet
since the war began. So you are willing that, with all the human life
that has already perished, practically the entire flower of the warring
nations shall become exterminated before even an effort be made to see
whether these nations cannot be brought to reason, cannot be made to
stop and to consider whether, with the experience of the past four
months before them, it would not be better to even now make an effort to
find a way in which the causes that have led to this deplorable conflict
can be once and forever eradicated?

That it will be possible to find at this time any method or basis
through the adoption of which the world would become entirely immune
against war I do not believe, even by the establishment of the
international police force such as you and others appear to have in
mind.

The perpetual cessation of all war between the civilized nations of the