The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-12
RESTORE BELGIUM


tContinned from Page One.l
been partly determined by the success
of the Rumanian campaign and by
cabinet crises in England and France
Conference in Berne or the Hague.
The peace conference, If it comes
probably will be held either at Berne
or at the Hague, it was predicted.
Pending his coming speech, the en-
bassy referred to Lloyd-George's re-
cent statement to the press for Eng
lands ideas on peace. They had no
reason to believe. they said, that
Lloyd-George's views on that subject
had changed since then.
Speaking privately, embassy off
cials said when given the Germany
terms, that the important question of
Limitation of armament perhaps
partial disarmament must not be omit
ted if any peace discussion is to be in
itiated and continue for any length of
time.
Another officials said that the whole
principle of continuing the war is to
convince the German people of the
"evil of German militarism." Whether
| the German people yet realize that
''evil'' is the question which England
must decide before she can talk peace,
he said.
Doubt Allies Acceptance.
Among the entente diplomats here,
Germany's offer was pronounced to be
| of double purpose and unlikely of ac-
ceptance. The first purpose the ally
! representative declared is to affect the
world opinion of neutrals and place
| upon the entente powers the respon-
sibility of continuing the war in the
face of offers for peace. The second,
| they declare, is for the internal effect
| in Germany, and to give evidence to
the people that the government was
DIV IN he hI1f
| to continue by her enemies.
The peace offer, the ally diplomats
also say, has been timed to follow the
military victory which eliminated in
| the fall of Bucharest, which in itself is
| relied upon % convince the people that
| they should lack no confidence in the
| ability of the government to continue
| the war if peace offers are declined.
| While without official information
| OF the terms proposed by the central
| lieve they are somewhat after the gen.
| eral nature of the following:
| Allies Suspicious of Terms.
Germany to restore the occupied
portions of Belgium, and France, but
| not Alsace and Lorraine. The restor-
| alton of Belgium however, is expected
/ to be accompanied by terms which
would give Germany control of Ant
| werp and what the entente allies de-
y
| control of the country. They expect
also that in restoring the occupied por-
| tions of France, Germany would seek
| to retain economic control of the rich
| iron country and stipulate that no re-
strictions be placed on free exporta-
| ton of the raw material she needs so
much
| AS regards Poland, the entente rep
| resentatives expect all of the territory
| conquered from Russia, would be in
| c1uded in the independent kingdom,
| but that none of Poland held by Ger
| many before the war would be so in
cluded. Mesopotamia, these diplomats
| expect would be claimed for Germany
| and Austria, to give them an unbrok-
en- line to the Persian gulf. Such an
arrangement, they say. would threaten
Great Britain control of Egypt and the
Indian empire.
! Add to Bulgaria.
| In Serbia all of the country as far
south as Nish would according to this
plan be awarded to Bulgaria. 1t
would take from Serbia as much ter
ritory as she gained in the Balkan
| wars.
AS regards Turkey the allied diplo-
| mats here have no idea what the
| peace plan might propose, but they
are of the opinion that Turkeys in
| terests will be secondary consideration
In the Redistribution of colonies, it
! IS expected that Germany Will ask to
have her conquered outposts restored
to her, or might propose to exchange
them for some of the French colonies.
| The attitude of the allies as to peace
has not been officially indicated to
the United States and press dispatches
indicating their present hostility to it,
are the only source of information the
United States has.
| The attitude of the allies has been
understood to be fatty hostile to peace
that recently official denial was made
| that the United States had made any
offer or contemplated any.
| The recent changes in ministry in
! France and England are interpreted
here to mean, not that they have Civ
en- the power to make peace to any
one man, but that they constitute the
mandate of the full force of public
opinion in both countries to carry the
war to a conclusion.
The desires of the Balkan nations
allied with Germany are understood
to be fully set forth in the notes pre-
pared by the Sofia and Constantinople
governments. Nothing definite is
known here regarding the Turkish
| plans, but it is regarded as certain
that Bulgaria will set forth that the
territory she has lost be returned 20
her.
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