New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-08
Vain Talk of Peace.


Outside Of Wall Street no one IS likely
70 take very seriously the current tax OF
peace in Europe through American media
ton. So far as such talk affects stock
speculation it may have its uses. But II
has no pertinency beyond the boundary
lines of the Wall Street district
There would be no cause for surprise
# Ambassador Gerard, when he arrives II
this country. should convey TO President
Wilson the earnest desire of the German
government TO end the war, or should
even present a letter asking the President
10 sound the Allied governments as TO theii
willingness to discuss peace terms. 1t IS
no secret that Germany has been eager
for nearly a year past to open peace
negotiations. Chancellor Bethmann-Holl-
veg announced in the Reichstag last WIN
ter the terms on which the Teutonlc allies
were willing to make peace. The news
papers have been full of subsequently,
somewhat exaggerated-of roundabout
German propositions to Russia and to BEL
cium. The German public longs for the
return Of peace and the German leaders
are more than anxious to effect a settle
ment while German armies are still fight
ing on foreign soil and large areas Of
conquered territory are still available Tor
trading purposes in a peace conference
But as Germany's desire grows to call
the war a draw the determination Of the
Allies to fight on to the bitter end becomes
more iustifable and more infexible Time
is on the side of the Allies. They have
met and stopped the great German often
sives of 1914, 1915 and 1916. They have
themselves assumed the offensive on all
fronts. They possess enormously greater
resources. monopoly of foreign credit
and exclusive access to the worlds mar
kets. They have the better of the situa-
ton from every point Of view-military,
financial and political. 1t would be an
indefensible weakness-a pitiful surrender
of an advantage in position which they
have won through enormous sacrifices
for them to consider such terms Of peace
as the German government is now ready
to offer.
To accept the theory that the war has
been a draw and TO consent 70 reestablsh-
ing the old status in Europe would mean
merely the striking Of a hollow truce.
Under il there could be no real peace in
the world. The security for which the
Allied Powers have been fighting would
still be unattained. The colossal burdens
of the war would have to be borne by all
the contestants without any compensation
TO them, or TO neutrals, in the way Of
international stability and tranquility.
Europe would live in the shadow Of an
other war. for which both political COM
binations would be preparing with fever
ish energy.
The Allied Powers have bound them
selves not to accept such peace, and in
so doing they have shown the profoundest
wisdom Better two years more of war,
whatever the cost, with a real decision at
the end, than a patched-up peace and
ten or twenty years of preparation for
new slaughter.
No peace of the sort which will benefit
the world can come until Germany snd
her allies are forced TO confess defeat and
to pay the price of failure. Peace is a
very costly commodity TO nations tired Of
war. Until the German people want peace
more than they want anything else and
are willing TO ask for it on terms fixed,
not in Berlin, but in the Allied capitals,
il is idle TO think or talk Of ending the
war through any stroke of legerdemain
like American mediation.