Welsh Journals

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THE WELSH OUTLOOK SEPTEMBER, 1916 NOTES OF THE MONTH The War With the improvement in the and the military position of the Allies it Peace is natural that there should be a willingness, not to make peace, but to consider the terms of a possible peace. Until quite recently most of us have felt an air of unreality about all such discussions and have been inclined to dismiss them with a "Let us beat Germany." Germany is not yet beaten. We must lay our plans on the basis of another twelve or eighteen months of warfare. The participation of Roumania may shorten the period. Our own army will not have reached its maximum striking force until well on into next year. The nippers may be gripping, but the crack is not yet. The pressure on the enemy, however, was never so extended in space or continuous in time as it is to-day, and it does not seem presumptuous for the good citizen to consider in some detail the sort of Europe he would like to see emerge out of the conflict. The principle of nationality, to respect which we are all pledged, is an excellent regulative principle, but its consistent application will be found most difficult in practice. Peace terms cannot be discussed in vacuo. The map cannot be redrawn at will. There are already lines traced on it in invisible ink by diplomats during the course of the War, which will come to the surface when the plenipotentiaries of peace warm to their work. Does Roumania serve the Allies for nought ? Does Italy look with covetous eyes across the Adriatic to Dalmatia or Albania ? What arrange- ments will give territorial justice to Belgium ? This last problem is discussed on another page by Dupierreux, a well-informed Belgian, and his article is a good example of the sort of analytical treatment to which we should like to see all vague Ptace proposals subjected. The If the success of an Eisteddfod Eisteddfod should be measured by the enjoy- ment of those who attend it, then this year's gathering at Aberystwyth must be pro- nounced one of the most successful of recent years. The tent was pitched between the mountains and the sea, the sun was kind, the conductors were wittier than usual, and Mr. Lloyd George was at home to the whole nation, diffusing his radiant personality through the great crowd to the loneliest Welshman from the remotest glen. The Gymanfa Ganu was an unforgettable ex- perience. The multitude of the choir, the unity and power of the voices, the skill of the conductor, would have made the gathering impressive at any time, but met, as we were, at a most solemn hour in our national history to sing hymns which are deeply inwrought with our most sacred experiences, the day was lifted up into one of fresh personal consecration to the Highest. It was impossible not to feel that this little people had a gift to offer the world which, as Principal Hadow declared, had every hope of being among the greatest achievements of human civilisation. But if this prospect is to be realised, there must be far more devotion and discipline. The Gymanfa has come to stay as a day of national dedication and exaltation, and there is no reason why Dr. Allen's dream should not be realised-the performance of the greatest musical works of the world in this most wonderful way. We hope Dr. David Evans and Dr. Lloyd Williams will go on with the enterprise so magnificently begun. The Gorsedd The setting of this year's Gorsedd amid the Castle ruins overlooking the bay was most picturesque. The present Arch- druid has done much to raise the beauty and dignity