Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-12-18
A SOUR VIEW.
The Anglo-American Press Views
The Peace Proposals OF The
Central Powers With
Less Hostility.
Confirmation from Page ID

accept Is nothing more than q con-
ference at which the problems Of the
present war and its aftermath Of
neace shall be thrashed out. Germany
has not stated her terms in advance,
or asked the Allies to announce
theirs
The New York Globe is content to
paint a highly colored, hypothetical
canvas of Misunderstanding" and
append to it this legend: 1T is nee
essary, in connection with the peace
discussion, to consider the funda-
mental question of whether there
has been amuck-running in Europe.
RI there has not been, a gigantic
mistake has been made, the war Is
without reason, and not another shot
should be exchanged. But if there
has been. conditions are basically
differet. II is necessary TO consider
and to give judgment on the facts.
II Germany is right in her conten-
tions, then her terms Of peace are
magnanimous and should be Instant
ly acceded to-; If she Is wrong, they
arc obviously impossible.
The New York Sun, which alludes
TO the German proposal as "The
Berlin Trial Balloon" has this to
say: "The Governments Of the I'm
tcnte Allies cannot refuse with good
grace to consider definite proposals
formulated by the Teutonic Powers,
but there must be scepticism in
Paris and London and Petrograd
about the good faith of statesmen
who approach the subject Of peace in
SO peculiar a fashion, and q grave
doubt that II will he possible to
come to terms with them--terms
that can be acceptable to allies who
have solemnly pledged themselves
to stand together to make an end Of
PruSsian militarism and to secure
the rights OF the smaller nationali-
ties"
Tho New York Herald, Of course,
will have nothing to do with the sub
iect dismissing il as an attempt OF
Berlin TO use the United States as
'catspaw'.V
Throughout the editorial columns
alluded TO, while the obligation or
advisability OF the Allies Of serious
ly considering the proposal Of the
Central Powers is generally recog-
nized, Is apparent the desire to tell
the various belligerents, on both
sides, that the terms OF peace should
be.
The New York American, how
over. castigating in perhaps the
ablest editorial that has appeared in
New York newspaper on the sub
iect Of Germany's proposal this
tendency toward irrevelant and
worthless discussion OF what must
eventually be determined by the
belligerents themselves, pertinently
says
ut seems to us that the bulk OF
the comment which fills the press is
wholly beside the point, Is entirely
irrevelant to the issue.
\ I'VE cannot see that anything
which Las occurred during the war
has any bearing upon the question Of
| holding q conference. That is eX-
| actly why conference would be
| held-to discuss the rights and
| wrongs and events and results OF the
war. 70 make the holding Of q con-
| ference depent upon a discussion Oh
| the differences in advance Is as un-
reasonable as 1t would be for judge
| to refuse to hold court and adjudi-
cate case until the litigants had
argued one another into an argu-
ment.
I'VE ought to take counsel of our
own interests and safety, as we'll as
OF our compassion for Europo's woe
and agony, and use our best efforts
to induce the English and French
and Russian and Italian peoples to
| meet their adversaries half way in
this mo It momentous hour
And so we should
This is not a time for a press that
should serve America first to attempt
to decide the terms of peace. 1t is
time rather for it to urge with all
the power at its commanu the ac-
ceptance Of Germany's proposal that
the belligerents get together and de-
lermine what those terms shall be,
They, in the first analysis and largely
In the last, must dictate upon what
basis they arc TO live together in
the future
And notwithstanding the bonn
Dastic tonc OF the British and French
press, ana the utterances of some oil
their leading statesmen, and the ac-
ton OF the Russian Duma which Is
reported to have passed unanimous.
w q resolution in which III considers
that the German proposals are moth
ing moSe than fresh proof OF the
weakness Of the enemy and hypo-
critical act from which the enemy
expects no real success. but by which
1t seeks to throw upon others thC
responsibility for the war and fol
what happened during IT, and to ex
culnate itself before public opinion
Fin Germany" all OF the Allied Powers
are as ready FOR peace as are The
Central Powers.
The resolution Of the Duma is thC
best evidence that Russia is contem
plating peace; the best proof of de
feat is an aggressive expression o
victory. So, with Great Britain, wheT
Arthur Henderson, Member withou
Portfolio in the War Board. re
marks subject to the conditions
have set forth, the people Of thil
country are prepared to accept peac'
today, as they were in August, 1914
always provided that such a peace Il
just and that it Is permanent Bu
there IS one supreme condition tha
must be observed, whenever peac'
negotiations are entered upon The.