The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-13
CLUMSY TRAP
SAYS JOURNAL
OF PROPOSALS

PARIS, Dec. ia clumsy trap
Is the caption under which the morn
Ing papers print Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hollwegs speech In the Reicn
stag. "The time for feints is over,
says the Petit Journal I'VE are nc
longer in the presence Of the trial eff
forts Of those persistent appeals tc
interviewers and newspaper articles
Chancellor Won Hollweg summoned
the Reichstag not to hear his speech
but to be confronted with an act. We
do not know II at Berlin there are
people SO naive as to imagine that the
allies are likely to swallow this clumsy
bait. even on the morrow Of the events
in Roumania.
Cherish No illusion.
Any case Field Marshal Won linden.
burg's statement shows that the mill
tary cherish no illusion. What is
still more certain Is that the treacher
Uus German move aims at something
Use than genuine peace. It seeks an
Internal and external effect. In Ger
many it is intended to convince the
people that the government is not re-
sponsible for the sacrifices imposed
and that its adversaries alone are re-
sponsible for the continuation Of the
struggle. Aboard 1t desires to per-
,uade neutrals that the allies are pur.
suing policy of ambition. That is
the explanation Of the pretended mod.
grafton In the tone of the speech.
THE speech merely emphasized es-
sential weakness which temporary sue
cannot hide" the Petit Journal con-
dnues. 1T Is because Germany knows
she cannot win that she desires to end
the war. Her plan. however. Is doom
ed. 1t will fail before the immovable
resolution Of the allies"
Brand Note 40 Talk.
The Matin characteristics the peace
proposals as mere talk" saying:
They contain no territorial, political
Or other conditions which could serve
as basis Of discussion. Germany
simply says for the hundredth time
that she never desired war and wishes
only to protect her rights, and that If
her enemies will not listen she will
throw the blame Of further bloodshed
on them. The device Is too obvious.
II could not deceive any but the most
ignorant.
Another motive Is the necessity Of
making Germany accept, the sufferings
and sacrifices of another winter cam
paign. II only the civilian population
had to endure this, not much harm
would be done but the army Is begin
ding to feel the strain. During the
'ast few weeks rations have been re-
duced. and in three months time they
T'ill be very poor indeed. Germany is
to talk of peace but she
does 1t as vaguely as possible in the
hope OF spreading dissension among
her enemies and keeping her coalition
togethe-.
Wants Different Peace.
In an article in the Figaro Alfred
Capus. dramatist and member Of the
French academy writes What Of the
What is the whole thing
for? We want peace. too, but our
peace is not theirs. What then are
Germany's condition? Nothing pre-
else. She informs us only that her !
pretensions are moderate, and pro- /
poses to us to stop the war while she |
defines them. AS soon as we lay down
our arms. as soon as the image OF |
reace hall has done It's work of dis. |
inrbing our minds and a peace party
shall have been formed in France,
Russia and England, then Germany |
will enlighten us on the conditions
which she now calls moderate. Such
IS the trap. 1t will be met by us and
BY our allies with grim contempt, not
.ven with anger. The manoever is too
clumsy to be worthy of indignation"