New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-03
THE PROSPECT OF PEACE
Germany Wants Her Kind as Much
as the Allies Want Theirs.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The article, AN Honorable Peace
According to the Allies" by Sir Thomas Bar
clay, which appeared in yesterdays issue of
your paper, ! have read with the greatest
interest. While Sir Thomas's hopes for an
honorable peace among the belhgerent ma
tions are gratifying, | feel called upon-to
avoid Misunderstanding on the part of your
readers-to acquaint you with the true sentl-
ments of the German people with reference to
the present war and the possibilities Of an
honorable peace.
receive by almost every mail reports from
leading German citizens-nOt belonging to
the military class and from these letters,
which clearly mirror the sentiments of the
people. it is evident that the Germans are
firmly determined not to make peace until
the Allies admit their defeat and are ready
to conclude peace at Germanys terms.
am naturally unable to judge what the
views of the German govern@e:t are with
reference to the eventual terms of peace, but
am in a position to prove through number
o; letters from some of the leading German
citizens that the German people stand like a
rock against any peace which does not insure
the full integrity Of the German possessions
and an assurance that no further attempts
can or will be made on the part OF their
enemies in the future TO endanger the peace
Of Europe.
Should Sir Thomas sincerely believe that
the German people would ever entertain any
peace proposals which do not insure the in
tegrty of all German possessions and the
assurance of lasting peace, then ne is sadly
msinformed regarding German spirit, Ger
man determination and, above all, regarding
German ideals All Germans are firmly CON
WINGED that they are waging this war in the
interest Of Justice freedom and civilization,
and that they must not think of peace until
their objects are accomplished
Considering the fact that Germany at the
close of the first year of the war is victori-
Gus on both battefronts, that she has so far
taken about 100000 prisoners, and in the
reighborhood Of 10000 guns from the enemy;
that all the many times heralded efforts on
the part of the Allies "to drive the German
armies out of France and Belgium" have in
every instance proven to be idle boasts; that
the so-caled Russian steam roller has suf-
fered the most terrific defeats, 1t must be
apparent to any intelligent observer that Sir
Thomass hopes for an honorable peace
which are very commendable from a humani-
tartan point of view-can only be fulfilled if
the Allies frankly admit their defeat and show
their willingness to submit to Germany's
terms.
What Germany's attitude will be when the
Allies approach her with sincere offers OF
peace l unable of course to judge, but |
feel sure that she will grant the Allies in
that case peace with honor
| wish to sdd that the letters referred TO-
which show the sentiments and the deter
mination of the German people, can be seen
by any of your representatives who wish to
become acquainted with the true spirit of the
ration.
Knowing your fairness and good will to
listen to both sides, | thought it advisable in
the interest of'truth and justice to acquaint
YOU with these sentiments, so as to give you
a clearer understanding Of the true state OF
the German mind WALTER SCHMIDT.
New York, July 26, 1915