The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-02
KAISER DESIRES PEACE
Continued from Page One,

the act of its submarine commander
in the case of the Arabic and en-
parked upon g policy of Cancellation
of the United States, eliminating in
mands in the submarine controversy,
by Ambassador Won Bernstorff, at
Washington yesterday.
Will Do Much for United States.
incidentally it may be said that the
ambassadors announcement of the
acquiescenee of Germany in President
Wilson's contentious for the observ-
ance of international law is only a be-
ginning in the campaign launched by
Berlin to win favor of the American
people.
Why the Kaiser Yielded.
The disclosure that the kaiser and
his ambassador were discussing peace
possibilities by wireless two days be-
fore the destruction of the Arabic is
regarded as significant by the colony
of foreign officials here. The BELIEF
is growing that Germany suddenly
abandoned its uncompromising atti.
tude toward Washington and adopted
a program of Cancellation, not because
the kaiser feared a nation totally I'M
prepared for war, but because con-
Citation would further his efforts to
achieve these two great endS-pre-
vention of the Balkan states from en-
tering the struggle on the side of the
allies, and termination of the war,
with Germany at the high tide of its
victories.
1t is admitted by official representa-
tives of the allies that the kaiser has
been playing mastery world politics
in the last fortnight, and that his ac-
ton averting trouble with the United
States undoubtedly has had its effect
in the Balkans.
1t is pointed out that had there been
rupture of relations between Berlin
and Washington, German stock would
have gone down and one or more OF
the Balkan states probably would have
been encouraged to take the plunge
into the conflict of the allies.
In the first place. the action of the
kaiser in yielding to the United States
puts it squarely up to President Will
son to adopt forceful measures to
compel Great Britain to cease it's vio-
lations of international law in the
maintenance of the starvation block
ade. If President Wilson carries out his
pledge of vigorous action to compel
England to abide by international law
and succeeds in winning notifications
of the blockade, Germany will be the
gamer.
In the second place, Germany would
have much to gain and nothing to lose
by accepting mediation proffered at
this time.
The attitude of the President since
that time has been that he would not
renew his attempt at mediation unless
specially requested to do SO by one or
more of the belligerentS. For some
time, however, close associates of the
president have been of the opinion
that Mr.. Wilson would need little en-
couragement at this time to bring
peace proposals again to the attention
of the warning nations.
Berlin Flushed With Victory.
A comparison of the German peace
terms at this time with those pub
lished last spring demonstrates that
Berlin is flushed with victory. The
kaiser has marked up the price of
peace since last spring, particularly
in the case of Russia. Germany has
revived the proposal of an independent
kingdom of Poland TO serve as a buff
fer state and is demanding Courland
as further protection from the Slav.
The suggestion of autonomy for Fin
land is interesting. A semi-indepen-
dent Finland would constitute a sort
of buffer state between Russia and
Sweden, which is conspicuous1y
friendly to Germany.
The proposed partition of Servia be-
tween Austria and Bulgaria likewise
is significant. The promise of such a
reward might be sufficient to keep
Bulgaria friendly to the central en-
nil