To the Editor of the Crimson:

A news bulletin issued by the British Library of Information in New York carries this week the interesting report that another "Peace Offensive" by Germany has been "exploded." Included in the alleged German proposals were the items that the present German government would be replaced and that occupied countries would be restored to their prior status, in return for certain concessions to Germany. Americans who have supposed that it is necessary to go to war in order to get rid of Hitler and bring liberties to subjugated countries would be interested to learn more of these mysterious transactions. They would like to know by whom they were "exploded" and to what extent if at all it was considered appropriate to consult our government. Is it perhaps assumed that decisions of this sort are not our concern: it is our job to support Britain; it is Britain's job to make peace or, assured of our unquestioning backing, to reject it.

No one expects at this time an acceptable peace offer from Germany. But there are two ways to deal with an unacceptable offer. One is to "explode" it. The other, to propose an alternative which would be acceptable. This second way would carry the suggestion that peace on some terms might not be a criminal notion! Has our government no head to devise such an alternative? Or is it bound to acquiesce tamely in British summary rejection of every future peace proposal short of the complete military surrender envisaged in Article Eight of the Atlantic Pact? Then inded we have sold ourselves to the task of carrying warfare into Europe, not to defeat Hitler, not to save England, not to release subject peoples, but to promote the additional interests of British statecraft. I do not say these are evil interests: I say they are not ours.

Generous and foolish Americans, stir yourselves to a moment's reflection! It is only nations deficient in intelligence and moral purpose that can conceive no conclusion of conflict except the crushing of an enemy, even when that enemy is ready to renounce a wicked leadership. And in this case, the cost of such mental and moral deficit (responsibility for which must lie heavily on our universities as well as on Washington) must be the ruin of Europe in long drawn out war and the endless slaughter of our youth. The best of England has no such desire. Can we not summon up in ourselves an idea of a just settlement and an independent will to promote it before this catastrophe overtakes mankind. W. E. Hocking,   Alford Professor of Religion,   Moral Philosophy, and Civil Policy.