Compromise solution
by Kegler
Each pair of conflicting letters gets replaced with the letter exactly halfway between them in the alphabet;
in column order, the new letters spell MIDDLE GROUND.
Across
| 1 | WOO(F)S |
| 5 | SUB + S (rev) |
| 10 | lAURA |
| 12 | AP + EX (PA rev) |
| 13 | tASKS |
| 14 | WALE ("WHALE" hom) |
| 16 | HER + E |
| 17 | J + ADE |
| 20 | LANDAU (2 defs) |
| 23 | ED + IS + ON |
| 24 | A + EON (ONE anag) |
| 26 | DIS + TORT |
| 27 | AMP(U)L (LAMP anag) |
| 30 | HEM + P |
| 33 | RE + ADER (DEAR anag) |
| 36 | RESOLE (OR ELSE anag) |
| 39 | A(RIA)S |
| 40 | N(A)IL |
| 41 | AYE ("EYE" hom) |
| 42 | CO + IF + S |
| 44 | OLLAS (hidden) |
| 45 | QUITE (QUIET anag) |
| 46 | W + ELDER |
| 47 | RE(TE)ST |
|
Down
| 1 | W + ARPED (DRAPE anag) |
| 2 | lOcUsTs |
| 3 | BARES (SABER anag) |
| 4 | SAW (rev) |
| 5 | S + PAWN |
| 6 | B(L)EAK |
| 7 | SWEDE (WEEDS anag) |
| 8 | OK + R + A |
| 9 | US + E |
| 11 | RADISH (RAD-ISH pun) |
| 15 | B + LIT + Z |
| 18 | ADmIT |
| 19 | TOO + K |
| 21 | NAME (MEAN anag) |
| 22 | UNL(A)CE (UNCLE anag) |
| 25 | O(UT)LIVES |
| 28 | PRO + FIT |
| 29 | E(RENO)W (WE rev) |
| 31 | P(RAY)ER |
| 32 | RESCUE (SECURE anag) |
| 34 | GRIL + L (GIRL anag) |
| 35 | ERASE (hidden) |
| 37 | SHOUT (SOUTH anag) |
| 38 | BALM (LAMB anag) |
| 43 | SET (last letters) |
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