New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-18
LASTING PEACE,
BERLIN PLEDGE
Diplomat Says Ger
many Will Give Guar
antee for Future

Berlin, Dec. II (by wireless 70 Say
Wholesome sections of the foreign
press and especially newspapers in hos
tile countries having declared that the
Central Powers ought to have added
definitive peace proposals to their
peace offer, the semi-oficial Overseas
News Agency asked a distinguished
! German diplomat for his opinion on
this point. His answer was:
"The German note TO the Entente
governments contains a very definite
communication as to the spirit of the
peace conditions which the Central
Powers would bring to the proposed
negotiations.
"The Central Powers base these pro-
posals on the conviction that their own
rights and just claims o-day are not
in contradiction to the rights of other
nations. In addition, the Central Pow
ers declare they do not want to an
nhilate or destroy anybody, and that
the peace proposals will be of such
nature as to guarantee the establish
ment of lasting peace.
"To go further in outlining the peace
conditions would have meant a handi-
cap to the Central Powers in case (con-
trary to what some newspapers in hos
tile countries have declared) the hos
tile governments decided TO enter into
negotiations or discussions. II Is
relf-evident truth that nobody could
come to such negotiations with tied
hands while the hands of the other
party were completely free"
No Armistice Desired
The "Frankfurter Zeitung" says:
Germany does not want cessation
OF fighting, but merely conference, at
which all the belligerents shall openly
state their peace proposals.
"A conference will be held at The
Hague about January Is. While the
conference IS in session all the bellig-
erents will be allowed to continue mill
tary operations"
In another article the "Zeitung"
says:
Germany must Try 10 prevent the
Entente from giving an eyasiye answer.
We expect a wide cleavage of views at
the outset of the negotiations, but
great apparent dvergences Of opinion
will have less significance when the
oral explanations are offered. The
points Of view Of both parties are al
ready partly identical as regards the
general fundamental aims of the war.
and the German note must be UNDER
stood as meaning that part of the Ger
man proposals refer 70 the reestab-
lishment Of international conventions
for the avoidance of international con-
f1icts and guarantee international
peace"
Referring to the possibility OF al
leviating the burden of srmaments, the
"Zeitung" expresses the belief that an
agreement 70 this effect is possible,
owing 10 the suffering caused by war,
and addse
But Germany must not be asked to
precede the others in reducing her
forces. Moreover, Germany does not
believe in abrogating general military
service. although there are many objec
tions against such. 1t would be abro-
gated If there were a common organiza-
ton of nations. in which Germany
would have an important place"
Naval Restrictions
Discussing the naval question, the
paper explains that Germsny's feet has
been built only for defensive purposes.
and continues:
"If German shipbuilding is TO be re-
stricted In the future, other naval
powers. including the United States
must do likewise. Great Britain mus,
recognize the sea as a free route FOR
all nations and must renounce domina-
! tions and the British idea that Great
| Britain has the sole right Of policing
| the seas. The regulating Of sea trafic
might properly be under international
| organization
The "Zeitung" concludes, III tn,
Continued On page ., column