The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-24
British Diplomats Confident
King Albert WillNot Desert
che Allies
GREAT BRITAIN WILL
NOT BE TAKEN UNAWA ARE
Has Been L aging Plans to Make
Attack Across Dutch Border.
Possible German Offer I opic
In Washington

Washington, Jan. 23--Diplomatic
circles in Washington today conferred
discussion on the news carried in
washington dispatches that Germany
liz considering making an offer of
separate peace to Belgium.
In neutral circles speculation as to
whether the King of the Belgians
would consent to accept evacuation of
his country and payment for property
damage done as payment In full for
the sufferings of his people at the
hands of the invaders was about even
ly divided
Diplomats representing the British
government condemned the plan off
hand and declared unwavering con-
fidence in King Albert's continuing his
resolution never to desert the allies.
From the German embassy came an
expression OF opinion In the form or
an interrogatory:
How can the allies object to the
restoration of Belgium inasmuch as II
was over this question that the chief
of the allied powers went to war
Whatever may prove the attitude OF
the king of the Belgtans. the attitude
of officials connected with the Belsfal,
legation in Washington was clear cut.
The reported proposal Of "A separate
peace is regarded in this quarter as
merely another attempt to bring
about an advantageous peace, made
in Germany
Would Release Million Troops.
If Belgium has an opportunity TO
reoccupy her invaded territory and
grasps that opportunity the German
plan to transfer to the near east the
million troops thus released from the
fghting front in Flanders may still
be thwarted. according to neutral
in close touch with England's war
plans.
This authority viewed today all the
possibilities Of the new situation sub
stantialiy as follows:
There IS no reason TO doubt thai !
Germany. convinced on the impos-
sibillty of maintaining her hold on
Belgium after the war, is considering
n voluntary withdrawal for her own
ends.
There is nothing binding the king
OF the Belgians to accept separate
peace.
There is nothing to suggest that.
however badly Germany may be
beaten, he could obtain more favor
able terms than those Germany Is
represented to be willing now TO con-
code.
1T Is altogether possible, then, that
Eeigium VIII conclude SUCH a peace.
taken unawares by such "A denounce-
ment; she has been planning for up
wards of "a year for this contingency
eDenied the possibility of attacking
Germany on her own soil over the
Belgian frontier. Great Britain has a
campaign fully mapped out for an
attack on the German frontter--troIn
across the Dutch border.
Bring Pressure On Holland.
.sUnder these conditions British
troops now in England to the mum
Der Of 100000 could be transported
To Holland and an attack through al
lied territory delivered against Ger
many, fighting on her own soil.
Before the British war Office would
allow itself to be outmaneuvered and
40 find hundreds of miles of inviolahie
neutral territory between Englands
army and her enemy, pressure would
he brought TO bear on Holland thar
would result in a declaration OF war
and would permit the transport or the
newest of Kitchener armies risht up
to the German frontier.
.Tn This way the transfer of Ger
man troops now facing the British in
Flanders to the Near East would De-
come Impossible, the attack from Hol-
land requiring all the forces now In
Belgium and additional reinforce
ments,"
British forces enters into the calcu-
lations of the German general stan
or whether II is unknown In Berlin
N can be stated authoritatvely that
the whole plan of the German cam
paign has been altered as a result OF
the British activities in the Near East
From officials OF the German en-
bassy it was learned that the generally
prevailing opinion that German ORR
ginally counted on a short sharp,
decisive victory over both France and
Russia Is correct. For the first twelve
months of the war Ii was pointed out.
G'ermany's greatest weakness lay in
the inability of the general staff to de-
termine on new policy. the neces-
sity for which was forced by the I'M
expected entry of Great Britain on
the side of France and Russia, and
by her blockade of neutral, as we'll
as of German ports. AS one author
ity. in close touch with Berlin, ex-
pressed It.
German Destiny I'm the East.
England made us turn our faces
to the east and In the east we have
found our destiny
Admission Is frankly made that the
threatened continuar ce, after the war.
of an Anglo French pact to deny the
freedom of the seas to German ship
ping might he successfully carried
out, so long as Great Britain retains
command of the seas. The present
German plans include the overcoming
OF this possibility by forming a COM
mercial union. extending from the
North Sea to -Bagdad and developing
commercial activities independent en-
+ firely of intercourse with the rest of
the world.
In British circles the proposal was
~keii as being another "feeler" on
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