Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-18
Tentative Peace Talk.

A distinctly encouraging aspect Is
given to the war situation In Europe
by the receipt of an informal sugges-
tion from the German chancellor,
doubtless speaking with authority, that
the United States should undertake to
elicit from Great Britain, France and
Russia statement of the terms under
which the allies would make peace.
Technically this is in nowise an over
ture, and should not be hailed by the
advocates of peace as an intimation
that Germany is ready to talk terms.
But actually it is n gain toward a ces-
sation Of hostilities. for it opens the
way perhaps to 4 suggestion which
may afford starting point for practi-
cal. peace advances.
In situation like the present there
must be primary basis for possible
peace in terms of the extreme condi-
lions of the belligerents. 1t is like two
parties bargaining for a transfer of
property. The seller wants the highest
possible price. the buyer wants the
lowest. and each states his maximum
or his minimum at the outset. When
the first figures are named the funda-
mentals of the deal are provided. In
case of war each side at the outset re-
terms. until developments indicate the
trend of war fortunes. Then is estab-
lisired the first faint relationship be-
tween buyer and seller.
inst at present there is no doubt
that the fortunes of war are not Ia
vorabls to Germany, considering the
broad purpose of her campaign. She
has undertaken to strike at the heart
of France and she has been checked.
after a successful advance into French
territory almost to the gates of Paris.
She has been thrown back many miles
with enormous losses and is now fight
ing defensive battle, success in which
will surely be costly and will not def
nite1y bring her into a position In
which she can command the submis
sion of the allies ranged against her.
For even temporary success in France,
however indicative of future success
In the same field, will leave her ex-
posed to the menace of Russian inva-
sion. rendered more perilous through
the practical collapse of all Austrian
resistance. And were France subdued
through the crushing of the allied
armies and Russia held at bay on the
frontier through superhuman efforts
on the part of the armies left after the
western conquest, there would still
remain England. with large colonial
resources and, above all, with her feet
virtually intact and capable presuma-
bly, of continuing to blockade the Ger
man coast
Thus without the least degree Of par
tisanship it is possible to view the war
in its present aspect as unfavorable
for Germany, and its continuance must
be a tremendous drain upon her in life
and treasure. 1t Is not surprising that
in these circumstances q Willingness Ia
expressed in Berlin, however informal
ly, that the United States, obviously
the natural mediator and already
standing ready to serve in this good
Office. should ascertain the terms upon
when the anti-German allies are will
ing to talk peace. Germany can well
afford to take the position that she
will make peace upon terms which are
honorable and which will not impose
a burden upon her people. She cannot
afford in the present state of affairs
to take the position that she will not
consider the possibility of peace until
she dictates the terms to all her foes.
A definition of the specific terms upon
which the allies. bound In agreement
to stand together in the last ADJUST
ment. would make peace is not to be
now expected. From England has al
ready come a broad outline of condi-
tions. obviously unacceptable to Ger
many in the present situation. From
France and from Russia terms more
favorable to Germany are out of the
question. Perhaps when the battle of
the Aisne has been fought, with results
plainly favoring one side or the other,
it will. be possible to obtain from both
contestants a maximum or a minimum
proposition that will furnish the be-
ginning. Of practical peace negotia
lions.