The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-24
dermanYl. Peace Prospectus

The renewed German peace agita-
ton, terms of which come via
Rome, seems to indicate, this time, a
consciousness of exhaustion or fast
approaching exhaustion. 1t can hard
~ be prompted by the same old idea
of throwing on the allies the onus
of continuing the war and thus ex-
citing at once the fears and the en-
thusiasm Of the Teutonic peoples.
This dodge, tried over again, would
be a trife flimsy, especially as there
can hardly be a new sensational war
plan such as the unlimited subma-
rine frightfulness to give it sub
stance.
1t is true the officers along the
western front are said to be appeal
ing to the fears Of their men by hold
ing up the boyle of retaliation for
their own acts Of rapine and spolia-
ton. But this is a different thing. II
aims merely to keep up the fighting
spirit Of the soldiers through indi-
vidual appeal, obviously a feasible
process with men whose nerves are
shaken by repeated defeat and pro-
longed suffering and terror. But to
infect the mass of the German and
Austrian people, who sit at home
thinking and realizing, with any new
hysteria of combat seems too great a
psychological task even for Prussian
leadership.
The only alternative conclusion is
that peace is really sought and the
war lords are willing to pay a good
stiff price for it. 1t looks, indeed, as
If they were willing to yield every
thing for which they began the war,
both ostensible and unallowed, if only
they can escape from it now without
crushing disaster and with perhaps
q little readjustment of the map ito
save their faces. The situation of
Russia offers them some opportunity
of this sort. Russian inactivity, they
figure, will free the other allies from
all obligations in her behalf. Thence
arises the German hope that by
yielding everything to France, Brit
ain, and America the central powers
may be allowed to compensate them
selves, or at least salve their pride,
by partial dismemberment of the
Muscovite empire. 1t will be OBJ
served that Serbia is not mentioned
in the German prospectuses of peace.
1t looks as if the calculation was
made that the allies would abandon
the conquered state and Russian
Poland for the stake of Belgium |
freed, Alsace-Lorraine restored % |
France, and a liberal territorial con-
eessions made to Italy, say, in the
Trentino; otherwise, the status quo |
ante to be re-established.
Knowing as we do the peculiarities
Of the German mind, we can easily |
imagine that this sort of peace may
seem possible to it. 1t suits Germany, |
so why shouldn't it suit every one /
else? The fact that it renders all |
the outlay Of treasure and blood |
futile is of no consequence; isn't Ger
many ready to pocket her losses, too? |
The fact that England would gain
nothing by her sacrifices would be
met with the sophism that, as she
went to war mainly because of Bel
gium, she should be satisfied with
the moderation Of Germany in max
ing no annexation of Belgian terri
tory. The gross immortality of the
bargain, the wrong to Serbia, to Rus
STA, even to Poland, could not, we
imagine, be made appreciable by
Berlin politicians. As for the United
States-why, money indemnity and
IN apology would make the mere
Americans agreeable to the deal
the bloedsinnige Yankees! In fact,
in presenting the program, German
statesmanship might be supposed to
swell with pride over its moderation