New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-26
A american Peace
Talk Now Has No
Relation to Actu.
alitieS-The
Real Stake Is
in the East
Copyright 1916
The Tribune Ass n.

for Italian hopes 10 reconquer trieste
and the western shores of the Adriatic,
they vanish when Germany becomes the
guarantor of Austrian integrity and the
two states march south to Valona. IL
means the final surrender Of the dream Of
following Rome and Venice 10 the Near
East when the Greek becomes the agent
of the Middle European alliance in the
Egean and along the shores Of Asia
Minor.
AS for France, it perpetuates the peril
that an aggressive and disproportionately
strong Germany has for her along the
Vosges. 1t means an eventual sinking TO
the rank Of a second-rate power and the
surrender to Germany Of some measure
of her independence in world affairs. IL
has less immediate and unmistakable peril
than it has for Italy, Great Britain or
Russia, but eventually the cost must prove
as large as that to Italy and greater than
that to Russia or Britain.
Peace Talk Without Basis
have reviewed this Middle European
idea, at this time, because ! am anxious
that my readers should understand why
the talk of peace that is heard so fire.
quently now, mainly from German sources
and in the American press, bears no re-
lation to actualities. Germany could af-
ford TO evacuate Belgium and France to-
morrow, to renounce all claim to any
colonial estates held by her before the
war; she could afford to return Metz to
France; she could even afford TO pay an
indemnity to Belgium, if she were but
permitted, with Austria, to retain her
hegemony in, the Balkans and maintain
her bridge between the Danube and the
Golden Horn. And If she were able to do
this she would have won a tremendous ad-
vantage in the war, laid the foundation
for a great world empire and planted the
seeds for another world war like the
present one.
Belgium has ceased TO be stake in the
war The integrity Of France is no longer
in question. The war has gone east and
south. But what Germany now suggests
as basis of peace cannot be accepted by
her opponents until they face utter ex-
haustion or complete defeat, neither OF
which is now within the picture, because
underneath the surface Of the present pro-
posals lies the hard and enduring foun-
dalton of the German dream Of Middle
Europe
The Real Stake
If the Allies can break the bridge be-
: tween the Danube and the Golden Horn,
, if SarraiPs army, which has taken Mon
astir, can get north to Uskub, and thence
to Nish, and make good its hold, provided
Rumania is not crushed, then there will
|, come time when peace can be discussed.
|. But the foundation of peace, given the
present condition of the Allied states, their
, resources and their military forces, must
pendence of all control by Austria and
Germany, together with the maintenance
Of Rumanian integrity and independence
Berlin recognizes more clearly thaa
East. The British have never seen it at
all until recently, and one element in
France, notably Clemenceau, has opposed
the Salonica operation from the start
Berlin now expects to take Bucharest and
thus persuade the Allies 10 abandon the
hopeless task of abolishing the Middle
European conception. Hence, Berlin day
by day frankly asserts that the decision
Of the whole warts soon TO be had in Ru-
mania, and reasons that the Somme OPP
, erations have lost all real value, even in
|. the face Of local British and French sd-
vances.
A Second Dream
Actually, the Germans have almost COM
Lletely realized their second dream. They
are now fighting to preserve what they
; ave conquered. To their scheme the
Western conquests arc unessential, and il
France will make peace on the basis Of
1914, with Belgium restored il Britain
will make peace, recognizing German con-
} quests in the Balkans and retaining old
German colonies, Germany will accept the
arrangement-her public men and her
press have indicated this.
4 But if Americans would understand
why France and Britain will not listen
: to peace now, they must see this Middle
) European idea that underlies the German
proposals, with all that it means to the
rations that are fighting Germany. When
they see this they will perceive why peace
is still a remote possibility, and will re-
main remote possibility for many months
to come, unless there be decisive victory
on one side or the other. which is hardly
J tc be expected for at least y<ar.