New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-10
Germany, Russia and Separate
Peace.

Deace proposal to Russia through Oopeh-
hagen. and the report to this effect WILDE
much denied and difficult to prove, there
is plain evidence that separate peace
with Russia has been in the German mind
for many weeks. Indeed, it is not TOO
much to say that it was to procure such
peace that the stupendous Warsaw cam
paign was undertaken, and if this end be
not att; ined it will prove an empty ana
fearful expensive venture.
One year ago when the German armies
approached Paris and the achievement OF
1870 seemed about to be repeated there
broke out all over the world, plainly IN re-
spouse to German press-agentlng, the sug-
gestion Of an early peace. France was
almost done. Russia, after Tannenberg, as
good as eliminated, England wholly I'M
ready. Therefore, German agents argued,
there should be an end to the terrible con-
fiction German terms, but these were
sure to he reasonable
France. England and Russia met this
attack by their tripartite agreement, which
bound all three to the pledge that none OF
them would conclude the war except with
the consent and approval Of the other two
That agreement stands now, when Russia
is in a plight not quite as serious as that
of France appeared in September, 1914
before the Battle of the Marine.
II is only by breaking faith with her
Allies that Russia can now obtain peace
from Germany. To obtain this peace she
must sacrifice certain territories. all hope
Of an exit to warm water by the Darda-
nenes. she must abandon her age long
claim 10 Balkan influence. She must con-
fess defeat greater than that of Man
churia. She must abandon co-religionists,
TO the Mohammedan and the Roman Cath
Ollie powers. She must confess herself
bankrupt in honor as in prestige.
Now if Russia is in fact bankrupt in
material and military resources, if her
army is destroyed. if the German attack
has succeeded in Poland in accomplishing
what it failed to compass in France a
wear ago-if the Grand Dukes armies are
DESTROYED. or about to be dcstroyed-it is
conceivable that Russia might yield; but
on no other set of facts can such a conclu-
sion be expected.
Russian surrender now would infallibly
shake the Romanoff dynasty to the ground
The religious and the political questions are
clearly joined in the present crisis. If the
ruling aristocracy in Russia should make
peace now it would stand helpless and
hopeless before the anger and the passions
Ct the millions of Slavs. Russian internal
revolution would be almost inevitable.
But for the rulers, apart from the prob
lens of internal strife, there is still to
be faced those having an international
hearing. Peace now would make Russia a
mere creature Of German diplomacy and
German ambition. The war broke out be-
cause Russia refused to retire before Aus
trian menaces, because she declined to sur
render Serbia to the Hapsburgs. Before 1t
was a French or a British war it was a
Russian war. France is fighting because
she was Russia's ally. England entered
the war after France, and if France had
remained neutral no question of Belgian
or British participation would have been
raised.
Comparatively, Russia is fighting for big
ger stakes than any nation save Germany.
If Germany is beaten Russian supremacy
on the Continent will be assured. She has
now the assurance of her Allies that, if
they can capture Constantinople, and they
are doing their best, it will go to the Gar.
But if Russia betrays them now, is it con-
ceivable that Great Britain will ever again
join Russia on the question Of the Straits?
In point of fact there is nothing yet to
show that there is any Russian reason for
peace. A great deal of foolish talk and
purposeful talk has been heard of late
about the fashion in which England and
France have deserted" Russia. This is
merest moonshine. Whatever Russia's
allies may have failed to do--they have
expended not less than 100000 in killed,
wounded and captured in a war which is
first of all Russia's war.
Whatever disappointment there may be
in Petrograd, the main fact is not mis-
taken. The Romanoffs are not more eager
to bow to the Hohenzollerns and the Haps-
burgs now than they were in July, 1914
If Russia is utterly crushed, then she has
no choice But when Napoleon was in
Moscow Russia received offers which would
have enabled the Russian Gar to divide
the world with the French Emperor, and
they were rejected.
1t is Germany and not Russia that must
have peace. 1t is Germany and not Russia
that faces destruction if the work Of an
other year of carnage continues. Bern
hardi himself wrote long before the present
war that Germany would be beaten in the