New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-15
Germany's Peace Terms

IN permitting lilt PUbA'N~N'NAf
speech of a German Socialist member OF
the Reichstag, the German censor has de-
liberately contributed to befog the situa'
ton so far as Berln's peace terms are
concerned. Thus, the world, reading this
speech. will in some measure, at least, con
clude that Germany is ready to make peace
at any time on the basis of the map of Eu'
rome at the moment of the outbreak Of the
Great War.
But there is not the slightest official evi-
dence to warrant any such assumption
There does not exist one shred Of evidence
10 prove that Germany would consent to
cvacuate Belgium and restore the cendi-
tons that existed before the INVASION
There is not the smallest bit of evidence
that Germany would consent to retire from
Northern France, to evacuate the Brieyi
for example, and thus return the great iron
districts of French Lorraine.
All that the Reichstag statement amounts
10 IS that a German Socialist member has
asserted that the French people are Kept
in ignorance of the fact that they could
have peace on these terms, mentioned by
him. if their government chose. Yet it is
certain that henceforth this assertion will
be used all over the world as an authentic
demonstration that Germany is prepared
10 make peace on easy terms, and that she
is thus without responsibility for the pro-
traction of the war.
In point of fact, there is not one official
utterance on the German side to show that
Germany is willing to evacuate Belgium
We have had and we continue to have dec
larations of the members of the political
parties that really rule Germany that Bel
rum must not be Internationally surren-
dered. that such a surrender would mean
that Belgium would become vassal OF
France and Great Britain, and that this
would open new avenue to Germany for
British and French armies. Over and over
again there have come declarations that
Germany must retain an economic and
military control of Belgium, even if some
shadow of separate Belgian existence is
permitted.
The question Of whether the French
people, for example, would consent to
make peace without Alsace-Lorraine does
rot enter into any controversy or discus
sion in which there is no tangible PROPOSE
ton before the French people. 1t will be
time enough to discuss French purpose
when German purpose is disclosed. But
Germany has not disclosed her purpose.
The German Chancellor would not dare,
to-day, to suggest that Belgium and
France be evacuated, even if, as is not
impossible, he believes that this is the
only possible preliminary move toward
peace.
We are going to have great many Ger
man moves like the present to confuse the
situation in the mind of the outside world.
We are going to have a desperate effort
made by German politicians and publicists
to convince their own and the neutral pub
lies that Germany is not responsible for
the continued conflict. But we are not
likely to have at any early date any con-
crete proposition from Germany offering
to restore the European conditions of 1914.
The German politicians believe that the
French people are so weary Of the war
that they are prepared TO make peace on
almost any reasonable basis. They believe
that they can create unrest in France by
unofficial assertions that France could
have peace without loss of territory held
before the present war. The German So
cialists, some Of them, at least, and prob
ably most Of them, advocate peace on the
basis Of the 1914 conditions. But the Ger
man Socialists cannot speak for the Ger
man government and are not in the pres
ent situation in Germany possessed of any
large political influence.
The time has not come for any discus
sion Of peace or war TO the end. II has
not come because those who control in
Germany are still determined 10 harvest
some profit from the early conquests II
they are not able 10 show some gain TO
counterbalance the enormous sacrifices
they will have difficult time in the future
when the hour Of settlement with their
own people comes.
A definite offer on the part Of the Ger
man government, either TO the enemy di-
rectly or through some neutral medium, 10
consent 10 the restoration OF Belgium,
France and also Serbia 70 the territorial
condition Of 1914 will mark a new phase
in the European situation. But until such
an offer is made in this way it Is neces-
sary 10 recognize that the fragments Of
Reiehstag debate passed by the German
censor for purposes too obvious TO need
explanation have no value Whatsoever.
There Is peace party in Germany. 1t
favors peace on terms that will leave Ger
many intact. II Is growing stronger all
the time. But there Is not yet any con
peace party, II there be any at