Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-08-11

Whether Germany has. in fact,
made a peace proposal to Russia
through Copenhagen. and the report
to this effect will be much denied
and difacult TO prove there is plain
evidence that a 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 pro-
cure such a peace that the stupen-
dous Warsaw campaign was under
taken, and Il this end be not attain
ed It will prove an empty and fear
fully 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 response
TO German press-agenting. the sug-
gestion of an early peace. France
was almost done Russia, after Tan
nenberg. as good as eliminated. Eng
land wholly unready Therefore
German agents argued, there should
be an end to the terrible conflict
on German terms, Dut these were
sure to be reasonable"
France, England and Russia me-
this attack by their tripartite agree
| ment which bound all three 10 tn,
| pledge that none OF them would con
clude the war except with the con
sent and approval of the other two
That agreement stands now, wher
Russia is in a plight not quite a.
serious as that of France appeared
in September. 1914, before the Bat
tie Of the Marine.
Il is only by breaking faith witt
her allies that Russia can now OBJ
tain peace from Germany To OBJ
tain this peace she must sacrifice
certain territories, all hope of al
exit to warm water by the Dardan
Giles, she must abandon her age lonI
claim TO Balkan influence She mus
confess a defeat greater than tina
Of Manchuria She must abandon co
religionists, 10 the Mohammedan AM
the Roman Catholic powers. She mus
confess herself bankrupt in honor a
in prestige
Now if Russia is in fact bankrup
in material and military resources
If her army is destroyed IL the Ger
man attack has succeeded in Polan
in accomplishing what il failed I
compass in France a year ago--if tn
Grand Dukes armies are destroyed
or about TO be destroyed-it is con
ceivable that Russia might yield
but on no other set Of facts can sue
a conclusion be expected.
Russian surrender now would in
fallibly shake the Romanoff dynast
to the ground The religious an
political questions are clearly joir
ed in the present crisis. II the ru
ing aristooracy in Russia shout
make peace now IL would stand hell
less and hopeless before the ange
and the passions Of the millions {
Slavs. Russian internal revolutio
would be almost inevitable
But for the rulers, apart from Ii
problems of internal strife there
still to be faced those having a
international bearing. Peace no
would make Russia a mere creatui
of German diplomacy and Germa
ambition. The war broke out b
cause Russia refused to retire befo
/
clined to surrender Serbia 10 Il
Hapsburgs Before II was a Frent
or British war IL was a Russii
war. France is fighting because 81
was Russia's ally England enter
the war after France and II Fran
had remained neutral no question
Belgian or British participate
would have been raised.
Comparatively, Russia Is fghtii
for bigger stakes than any natl,
save Germany II Germany is bee
en- Russian supremacy on the cont
ent will be assured She has NJ
the assurance of her Allies that.
they can capture Constantinople a
they are doing their best, II will
to the Car But If Russia betra
. them now, is it not conceivable III
! Great Britain will ever again i
, Russia on the question of the strait
In point Of fact there is nothing
to show that there is any Russi
5 reason for peace A great deal
D foolish talk and purposeful talk /
, been heard of late about the IA:
ion in which England and Frar
d have deserted" Russia. This is m
est moonshine. Whatever Russi
allies may have failed to do-tf
r have expended not less than 2 OF
600 in killed wounded and captui
in a war which is first Of all r.
}. sia's war.
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