New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-30

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nurnose As The liberation Of Belgium and
Serbia. the evacuation Of France; they
are consistent utterly with the purpose
for which the Allied peoples drew the
sword
Now. after two years and half there
can no no pcace. and it seems 20 The
Tribune that no right-minded American
can desire that peace should come, what
ever his personal discomfort or apprehen-
sion. until Belgium, Serbia France arc
evacuated until Alsace-Lorraine is re-
stored to France. Trieste and the Iren-
tino to the Latin world, Armenia rescued
from the Turkish assassins; and if Tran
sylvania. Rumanan by race, can be given
to Rumania. this also is just
But beyond this lies whole structure
built up by the incidents and the issues oil
the campaigns that have come. Constan-
tinople in Russian hands, Syria in French
German African lands partitioned, Ger
man sea bases and colonies abolished a
Russian Galicia and a circumscribed Bu-
garia-these are things that belong 70 an
other world OF ideas. Even Poland re
stored to Russia, if it were possible TO
have a free and united Poland, would be
a question Of might rather than ques-
ton Of moral right.
The German has challenged the whole
fabric and framework of our liberties. lie
has invaded, actually, Belgium, France
and Serbia; in fact he has invaded the
world and sought 10 put his foot on
all that the world held to. He has put
his desire above the will Of free peoples
and he has put his sword above the claims
of pity and Of humanity. And the Ger
man must be repulsed. Peace that leaves
10 the German one smallest fraction Of all
that he has acquired by his crimes is un-
thinkable and must remain unthinkable.
But who shall find any other measure
for the German repulse than the evacua-
ton of the lands he has occupied by trick
cry or by tearing up treaties, by an inva-
sion after years Of secret preparation,
after declaration Of war plotted over a
decade? The defeat Of Germany is 70 be
found, IL it is to be found, in the loss by
Germany of all for which Germany con-
tended. Beyond this it seems TO The Trib-
me that it is impossible to go What pun
ishment can be more complete than that
punishment which in itself demonstrates
the futihty of all the violence and the use
lessness Of all the mighty effort wrongly
directed?
Belgium, Serbis, France-these are the
measures Of the principle for which Eu-
rope has fought Germany, and if there
be added Alsace-Lorrsine, Trieste and the
Trentino. a Poland at least freed from
Austro-German influence. and perhaps a
PENNSYLVANIA returned to the Eastern
Romans. what more in all that is posi-
BILE is needed to vindicste the principles
for which the Allies unsheathed the sword?
And if Germany be not prepared TO evac-
uate France, Belgium, Serbia, to consent
10 the lust settlement Of Alsace-Lorraine
and Trentine wrongs, then the world can
not make peace and all talk Of peace
IS folly. But, if and when Germany con-
sent. to these things, then, in fact, Ger
man defeat is established although no Al
lied army enters Germany or passes the
Rhine.
The Tribune does not dream that Ger
many now proposes peace with any
thought Of making peace on such terms.
1t regards the German proposal as the
proposal of a winner who feels the best
is passing, may have passed, and
that it is better to rise from the table
with moderate winnings after huge risks
than to incur new risks with smaller
chance of winnings. To The Tribune the
German proposal seems a trick, snare, a
device intended to divide the Allies and de-
ceive neutrals, to fool the enemy and take
in the home population.
But if it shall serve to have clarified in
the minds of the peoples of the world, in
the minds Of neutrals, of Americans, the
issues Of the world conflict, it will have
served purpose. To The Tribune it
1870 no tho nassipc into a now