Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-13
Grrunany's Peace Tender

7 NTll. We know on precisely what terms
~ Germany proposes peace. discussion or
til" proposition which has been made will
not he particularly profitable. For year n:
least the central powers have beon more than
willing TO conclude the war. and half a dozen
'fceicrS' have been put out, through the
Vatican. Spain and Holland. Formal eX-
preston OF Il Willingness to enter into nego-
tiatOns with the entente will have real mean
Ing only as it is accompa MED by some indica-
iion OF a purpose to meet the cntenie'S views.
II is as certain as anything not malhcmati-
cal can be that Britain. France and Russia will
not be willing to conclude a peace which is
conferred on them by an acknowledged
cunQueror. Britain, al any rate, has only
begun 10 fight and her human losses. com
pared with those OF the other great belig-
Crcnts have been inconsiderable. She has
rot yet cXertcd her full strength. and the
recent reconstruction q; her government
shows she is girdinH her l0ins for that SUI
prcmC effort
An nconclusive peace would be worse even
than war, Tor il would merely clear the stage
end afford a breathing space for the resump-
ton OF the conflict. 1t is nconccivabc af-
tcr all the sacrifices they have made. that the
lilies would consent to peace on such terms.
This is no time. OF course. for rhetoric.
When wars daily toll is thousands of lives
ard hundreds Of millions of dollars. any
peace tender deserves. and should receive. the
most earnest consideration. If Il way is Of
tered by which this dreadful struggle may
b. ended. with the liberties OF Europe and
"f the world assured. il would be criminal
tor responsible statesmen 10 put il scOrnfully
aside
The basis Of Gcrmanys proposition 20 it
il said is the practical" restoration OF the
status quo ante helum. Doubtless this means
the evacuation OF Belgium and the occupied
districts Of France in return for German
colonies. but what "a Serbia nd
tOumania remains 10 be seen. The king
doms Of Poland and Iithuana are excepted
formally. and if these Kingdoms arc to be
erected on the Teuton plan. it will involve
the abandonment OF Russia by the other
members OF the entente Italy seems to oh
isin no recognition whatever.
One thing is notable; the German plan
seems TO be devised 10 NEE, the views OF
britain and France-n way. at leas,-and
sedulously TO ignore Russia and Italy. 1t is
quite evident now that Russia was offered
separate peace and declined it
We do not believe hope Of peace is great
Rightly or wrongly the ofcr OF peace will
he construed in allied capitals as II confes-
sion OF weakness. and This confession will
rcrve allied nations TO renewed cxcrtions
me ohcr is unqueslionaDly, confession
that Germany cannot win the war in the
sense OF ia" early German dreams and aspira-
lions. but il is not u confession that Ger
many faces the sort OF defeat which allied
spokesman nave predicted.
The best reason for 'opc is in the susscs-
lion that the terms limited al are not Ger
man! final word. bul may be enlarged in
the conference which is proposed Ii the
allies can obtain through negotiations all
THAT meg properly could expect to obtain
through continuance OF the lighting they
would be foolish To negotiate II peace
terms. recognizing the principles of nation
ality and OF economic necrssity which must