New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-04
Germany's Terms.


supplied by the good American game OF
poker. The Kaiser is now in the position
of q poker player who in the early hours
Of an all night session has made a Kill
ing" Henceforward his only concern IS
70 quit with his winnings. But quite IN
the same fashion the Kaiser's enemies are
in the temper of the poker players oppo-
nents. They have no intention Of letting
him quit and fixed determination to re-
cover what they have lost.
Thus it is that for many weeks all sug-
gestions of peace have been easily tracea-
bic to German and Austrian sources, and
the world has been witnessing again, as
in the Russo-Japanese war, the desperate
efforts of an unquestioned victor to pro-
cure peace while still victorious.
But it is essential for all Americans to
recognize that this peace movement is en-
tirely confined to Germanic quarters 1t is
this fact which has led Mr. Wilson, wisely
and with admirable judgment, to decline
TO make any new prefer Of mediation at
this time. It is q simple matter for the
President, through the American Amoas-
sadors abroad, to ascertain the temper OF
Allied statesmen and governments. Pre-
sunablv he has kept in touch with the
sentiment at all times, and it is upon IN
formation from London, Paris and Petro-
Grad that he has adopted his wise policy
of abstention.
Now as to the "terms," which are set
forth in 1.-THE American" probably with
nroner sanction; certainly their appear
ance in "The American" is Pr'nla tdc'e
evidence of their authenticity. The slmp-
Loot fashion in which to deal with them IS
70 discuss them in detail and then make
the few general observations which they
invite.
The suggestion of an independent Pc
land carries with it no proof OF what Is
actually meant by Polish liberty. Is 20
land 10 be an Austro-German protectorate'
one of those vassal states recalling Napo-
Icons creations of a century ago! Does
any one suppose Russia is yet prepared 10
give over her own project for an autono-
nous Poland, which in fact means nus
sian instead of Teutonic protectorate
II Russia is prepared TO make such sacrl-
fee then and only then is 1t possible 10
exnect France or Great Britain to accept
such proposal.
Next, Germany asks for complete free
dom of the seas. Now, no one has the re-
hottest idea as to what the Germans mean
,,,ben thew talk about the freedom Of the
cons In peace the seas have been per-
factlv free. and Germany has built up
wonderful merchant marine. But In war
Great Britain's naval supremacy has been
complete and the German flag has van
isbed from the blue water. If Germany
means now by her proposal that Great
Rr;tain shall surrender all the advantage
her fleets give her, then the proposal Is
absurd. because it asks as a concession
what could only be won by new Salamis
~ trafalgar. Not until England IS
actually beaten to her knees would she
grant such a sweeping demand-and TINS
time is not here.
The demand for "co-equal rights and
liberties for Jews in all lands, guaranteed
bv all signatories TO any treaty OF peace
Is best described by our neighbor The
World" which accurately asserts that this
is "clumsily concealed German purpose
70 array the Jewish sentiment OF the world
on the German side"
OF the next suggestion, the cesslon OF
Ressarabia to Rurnania, 1t is only neces-
sarv TO say that this is an equally obvious
attempt 10 buy Rumanian favor, and 1t re-
lates TO a province not yet occupied IN
whole or considerable part by Austro-Ger-
man forces.
The demand that Austria's hegemony
of the Balkans be recognized is chiefly IN
teresting in that It would, If granted, de-
stroy the Russian pretension TO the right
10 protect Serbia, which was the occasion OF
the present war. This would mean the
passing Of Rumania, Serbia, Bulgaria and
Greece as independent states, Turkey
would become an Austro-German protecto-
rate. and the Dardanelles, Suez and the
Eastern Mediterranean would be COM
pletely subject 20 German domination.
The vital interests Of all the Balkan States
and all the Mediterranean powers would
no DESTROYED were such German demand
TO prevail.
The evacuation Of France and Belgium,
suggested by the German proposal, is only
interesting in so far as it indicates clear
perception in Berlin that there can be no
peace until Belgium is evacuated and
French territory cleared. As TO the pro-
nosaI that France retire from Alsace, this
is wholly reasonable as a guild pro quo for
German evacuation Of French territory, if
France is sufficiently DESTROYS Of peace to
abandon all claims on Alsace-Lorraine.
But does any one believe this is the pres