Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-28
Dr.. StowelI, Reviewing Situa-
ton, Says, However. 0bsta-
CleS to Peace Are Many

That the German peace proposals
offer a basis for negotiations is the
opinion Of one of Americas leaders in
International law-Dr. Ellery C.
Stowell IF Columbia university. In a
statement to the New York World he
| said: ..-..:
| IT Is announced in the press that
Germany has transmitted TO her enc
mics the terms upon which the GEN.
| trail powers are willing to make
| peace. II is safe to say that this
message will bring JOY to every ma
| ton in the world. whatever interpre-
tation they may place upon the terms
which Germany offers. ..=..-....
Can Propose Reasonable Terms
''Germany's military successes have
made ii possible for her to propose
reasonable terms for a permanent
peace without loss of prestige, which
| no country will willingly incur. On
the other hand, the announced purpose
Of the Entente allies to carry on the
war solely for the purpose OF defend
ing Europe against the dangers of
German domination would make it
difficult for them to refuse SYM
| pathetic consideration of any rea.
sonable terms proposed by their ad-
versarieS. Co.
Under the circumstances. there
fore, we may teel sure that the En-
tente allies, if they should be unwill-
ing to consider the German proposal,
will base their objection upon the
ground that Germany's offer is too
extravaSant for serious considera-
| ton. H.. -
IF we would understand the inter-
national situation which will determine
the course of any subsequent negotia-
tons for peace we must remember.
I'D That Germany's victory in
Rumania has brought her an enor-
nous accession of prestige. II peace
should intervene tomorrow the world
would constantly remember her ire
| mendous economic and military
| achievements, 20 that she would en-.
Joy an enormous advantage in the
world competition for the increase Of
political influence and the acquisition
of new markets .- ~. -.
Probably Can Gain No More
"t2) Germany has now probably
reached the greatest extension of her
territorial gain, so that she can afford
to offer a reasonable concession in
the hopes of retaining some of the
advantages that she would probably
have to give up in the event of a
long struggle. ..:..--..-. =.
"(3) Great Britain and the Entente
allies, on the other hand, have suf-
fered a loss of prestige corresponding
| to the German gain, so that they may
not be willing now to make as favor
able terms as they might later, after
they had recovered from their dis
comfiture, for prestige is the all-im-
portant factor in International af-
fairs. Pacifist writer's leave it out of
account and reach wonderful results
satisfactory to themselves but having
no relation to practical politics.
20 The recent reorganization Of
ton announced for France will make
it possible for the Entente allies to
conduct the war with a vigor many
times increased The significance Of
the Transformation which has brought
about this result is so we'll recognized
by Germany that she must offer even
now much better terms than she
would have done had the former or
ganization of the British government
continued. ...... --....
"(5) 1t is almost as important that
the conduct Of peace negotiations
should be in the control of a small
group as it is in the case of military
affairs.
Germany's Maximum Terms H.. -.
Certain of the terms proposed by
Germany have been communicated
TO the press from reliable source.
1t is not necessary to repeat them or
to examine them in detail. They are,
of course, Germany's maximum,
which she puts forth as a basis for
discussion. As | examine them they
strike me as absolutely unacceptable
for the allies, but believe that the
posals must indicate a probable in
tention on her part to discuss with
her adversaries any counter propo-
sails which might appear as reason.
able to impartial observers. -. r..
The greatest danger that the pres
ent proposal may fall through lies in
the possibility that the Entente pow
ers cannot accept peace at the end
of such q series of misfortunes as has
attended their arms. | believe, how
ever, that they have everything to
gain from the conclusion of peace
if Germany is really ready to offer
them an acceptable basis, such as the
status quo ante; that is to say, the
condition existing before the war
Upon such basis Germany's tremen-
dous strength Ind her theory of gov
eminent would continue to challenge