The sun., 1916-12-13

Contrary to expectation, there wns
nothing In the Imperial ChancellOr's
speech to the %lReichstng yesterday
which disclosed the terms on which
the TeutOnic Powers are ready to
consider pence with the Allies. The
overture itself Is n move in the direc-
ton Of peace negotiations, but ut this
time Of writing we have no light
upon the nature Of the proposals.
These may or may not he set forth
specifically In the communications
which the United States and other
neutral governments are asked to
convey to the Allies; but until there
n exact Information as to the CON
tents OF the proposal, indicating ut
least by inference the maximum Of
demand and the minimum Of con-
tessiOn by Germany, the world can
form no opinion of the probability
Of the favorable reception of the over
ture by the nations now %stiffening
their military operations against the
Central Powers.
" The various reports about the basis
o. which Germany and her allies are
willing to go into conference IRE all
Indirect and conflicting. They can be
considered only cOnjecturally.
The complete restoration" Of Bel
gium Is a phrase that needs to be
defined. 1t Is one Of the main things
for which the Allies are fighting. But
they are fighting. not only for the
evacuation by German arms Of the
neutral territory ruthlessly violated
at the outset Of the war but also for
compensation. so fur as compensation
IL humanity possible. to the innocent
victim Of that frightful aggression
and, further, for the safeguarding of
its neutrality and sovereignty against
a repetition Of the outrage, and this
by guarantees more efficient and COM
pelling than mere scraps Of paper
elSucu lVI Vu tNtuSioH.
The withdrawal of the TeutOnic
armies from the northern part Of
France would leave that heroic M.
ton exactly where she was when the
war vas started exactly where she
stoOd In the geographic sense, but In
life and property and In national
prestige UNNECESSARILY the loser.
The erection Of Poland and I.ithu-
ania into an independent kingdom or
Kingdoms would mean the transfer
from Russian ownership to German
tutelage of the vast salient territory
conquered by German arms.
The retention by Austria Hungary
Of Serbia would accomplish the pur-
pose for which the war vas provoked
by Austria. With Serbia annexed
Bulgaria enlarged, ltumania whipped
II not possessed, Italy deprived OF
the little territory she has captured
Turkey confirmed In her seat on the
European side of the straits-tlen q
great new TcutOnic Power with It's
sllied and dependent natiOnalities to
the south stretches portentously across
the continent from the Baltic and the
North Sea to the .H;gean. Further
the dream of the uninterrupted line
from Berlin to Bugdad Is realized
cutting fur inside of EnglanIs water
route by Suez to the Indian posses
slOns Of her empire.
Can this be the scheme of settle,
ment proposed In the name Of Peace
by the German Government ut tho
moment Of psychological opportunity
offered by Won MACKENsEN's sweep
Ing victories In I,umania?
Field Marshal Won HINDENBuRC
was reported yesterday by Mr.. Won
WIEGAND, the correspondent of the
World, as estimating the casualties
inflicted by the Teutonic arms upor
the forces of the allied nations ut If,
teen million men, dead, wounded and
prisoners. Would such II Peace M Is
outlined above repay the unparalleled
fncrifice?
- We do not believe that London ~
Paris or Petrogrud or Rome would
for an instant regard the proposal
Of such terms us anything more thar
an attempt to gain II moral advnn,
tage In the eyes Of the world unt
IN historical position by proposing
imposslbllities and styling them hon
Orable Peace.
Let MS give Germany credit fol
longer foresight and better faith.