New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-19
Germany Uses
Press to Prepared a
Drive for Peace

LONDON, Sept. 1s.-The food Of so.
called peace rumors which the German
censor is permitting to sprout In lead
ing German newspapers convinces the
London press and public that Berlin 10
preparing home opinion for smother
sdroit peace maneuvre. which probably
will take definite shape before the snow
flies.
First came the alleged British peace
offer which, despite official denial, 10
still being commented upon excitedly
in Germany. Now much fuel has been
added to the agitation by the report
that the German government has absn-
doned claims OF supremacy and control
over the territory and population Of
Belgium. In addition there are all
sorts Of rumors regarding the German
answer to the Pope.
A dispatch to the Central News from
Amsterdam says:
"A careful reading Of German papers
leads to the belief that reports Of .
British peace offer were circulated sim-
ply with the object Of making II easy
for the German government to rally TO
the attitude Of the Reichstag majority.
and the whole thing Is an adroit ma
neuvre engineered by DR.. Won Kuenl.
mann, the German Foreign Secretary
Censor's Attitude Strange
. .L;u .ko,. H. a,L al. -
fair is that the German censor appears
To be permitting the newspapers TO dis
cuss the matter freely, but so far as is
founded on more substantial authority
than the indefinite 1--WE understand" or,
1--WE have received information" The
fact remains, however, that the German
government, as represented BY the cen-
sor, does not object 10 these statements.
"The Westminster Gazette" quotes
the Berlin correspondent OF the Cologne
"Volkszeitung" as saying that from
an official source there is no truth in
the report that Germany intends TO de-
clare an abandonment of her claims on
Belgium" "The Gazette points out
that the message is not necessarily an
official denial that Germany has de-
cided to renounce all claims on Belgium.
"The Evening Standard" says, This
German censor Is permitting German
papers to publish reports that Ger
many is to climb down and denouncs
any claim 10 supremacy over Belgium"
"The Pail Mall Gazette" adds: "An-
other step forward has been taken In
the carefully engineered peace cans
paign in Germany"
Folly in High Hopes
"The STAR says it is significant that
the German censor is permitting such
publications, adding:
1T would certainly be an important
step in the direction Of peace, but does
not In itself insure the success Of tho
negotiations, and as the press is silent
about similar 'rumors' about the fut.
ure Of Alsave-Lorrsine, the Trentino
and Serbia. it would be folly to build
any high hopes. There is no sign that
the rulers OF Germany and Austria are
in a more chsstensd mood than they
were a year ago"
The trend Of opinion in official and
diplomatic quarters for some time has
been that Germany would make
another peace move before cold
weather comes.
Germany first will direct efforts or
feelers 10 the United States, il is ex-
pected Officials are satisfied, how
ever, that the United States, being de-
termined TO get on with the war. will
not be misled by any German move
which either will be designed 10 bring
about a German peace or to cloud