The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-10
The German Chancellor on Peace.

BErHMANN-HoLLwEG's speech in the
Reichstag upon the subject of peace
will naturally be n reitcration by
Great Britain and her allies of their
purpose to continue the war until
their cause Is triumphant. BE the
journey long or short, we shall not
pause or falter," said Mr.. AsQrirH
in his Guildhall address on November
8. until we have secured for the
smaller States Of Europe their char
ter of independence. and for Europe
itself. and for the world at large,
their final emancipation from the
reign of force"
AS the Imperial German Chancellor
declares in the Reichstag that Ger
many is not fighting TO subjugatc
other nations. hut "for the protection
Of life and liberty" both sides be
lieve. or maintain, that their cause is
the cause of justice. free government.
progress and humanity. Such being
the case, overtures for peace cannot
be expected until one side or the
| other Is ~decisively beaten I'm the field
or, its dwindllng. finds IT.
| self unable to continue the struggle.
Six months 9 Mr.. AsQUIrH said
that the war was n war of cXhaus-
ton, implying that neither side would
submit or surrender until 1t could
fight no longer. Yet the statesmen on
both sides profess tn he ready to dis
cuss terms of peace, Mr.. AsQUIrH on
Wednesday in the House of Commons
and Chancellor Won BETHMANN-HoLL-
WIG in the Reichstng yesterday. A.
Great Britain. France. Russia. Italy
and Japan are lcacued together tn
make peace rs a unit, MI. AsoUITH's
statement meant only that oyerturc|
from the other side would be consid-
cred. but obviously on the basis Of
complete acceptance of the terms OF
the five nations league.
When we come 10 examine the
German Chancellor's discussion Of
possible terms OF peace we find that
peace Is conditioned upon the sub
mission Of the enemies of "lifc and
liberty who forced Germany into the
war. and that the Chancellor's pro
sJectus contains terms that might he
thrust down the throats of the Allies
but which otherwise they would never
accept. IF the Allies are not ready Ia
admit their inferiority and impotence
then they nre to be held responsible
for the continuation of the war.
If the Chancellor's speech IS nota-
BILE for the intimation that Germany
in the cabled version nothing T.
said about her allles-is confident of
victory but Is nevertheless in n 70
ceptivc attitude as regards peace.
there IL illogical insistcnce that her
resources in foodstuffs are adequate
and that her command of copper, 81
essential in the manufacture of am'
munition, is all that could he desired
Yet submarine warfare was waged t.
Illustrate England's attempt to starvC
the German nation into submission
and II Is known that there has beer
a dearth of copper in Germany, which
may, however, be relieved by working
the Serbian mines.
Optimlsts will no doubt point 10 tn,
Chancellor's declaration that 1--WE d,
not fight to subjugnte other nations
and fondly indulge the hope that Ger
many would consider proposals I,
cvacuate Belgium, although notice l.
served that Alsace-Lorrainc will no
he surrendered, nor apparently 20
land, since In the case Of both prov
inces the nationality argument II use,
to prove Germany's title to them. Al
the comfort that optimism can OK
tract from the ChNnccllOr's long her
aided speech Is that peace was hi
topic, and that when Ministers bcgil
to talk about pence there Is Mt leas
II silver lining to the black cloud %
war. In this case only n partial cy'
can discern It.
Stonhou pblII,u.