The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-19
PUBLIC Of GERMANY
SHOWS SOLID FRONT
Danger of Serious Internal
Disturbances as Remote
as Months Ago.
STRONG PARTY WANTS
WAR TO END QUICKLY
Large but Unorganized
Strata, Satisfied for Pres.
emf, Grows Weary.

Bcrnc, Switzerland, Feb. 1S.-Via
Paris.--Trom a staff correspondent OF
the Associated Press -There is no
doubt in the minds of Americans who
have come to Switzerland from Ger
many since the severance of diplomat
ic relations between Berlin and Wash
ington that the German public today
presents a solid front Any danger OF
serious internal disturbances such as
has been limited at in the publications
outside of Germany is regarded as be-
ing as remote as ii was many months
ago. Nevertheless, the state of public
opinion has become a pressing problem
especially in the last few weeks
From these Americans, some of
whom have exceptional opportunities
to study the internal conditions in Ger
many, the following information rep
resentative of their generally expressed
views has been obtained:
Yearn for Peace.
The attitude of the German people
became more of a problem when the
break with America occurred not be-
cause of any overwhelming majority
was opposed to the break, but be-
cause it followed so closely on the
heels of widespread peace talk, coming
at a time when the ycarning for ces-
sation OF hostilities had lately received
such an enormous impetus.
There exists in Germany a cynical,
though not disloyal minority, which
frankly believes the peace offer was
not made in the expectation that peace
could be brought about, but for the
purpose of hearteninS a large, but
only potentially dangerous, stratum of
the population which is tired of war.
This section has been antagonized by
the unsilenceable and uncomfortable
pan German element which has clam
ored for the annexation of everything
thus far conquered. or at least for very
material increases in territory.
although naturally unorganiZed this
stratum is very extensive. 1t has TAX
! en- the attitude that the war and the
| causes thereof are none of it's affair
! and that annexations would be of a
| doubtful value.
"A majority of this element is in
different whether Belgium is retained
or returned. 1t longs with increasing
anxiety for peace
Peace Move Succeeded.
"The growing opinion that Germany
cannot hope to obtain all that is de-
sired by the extremists and the pas
sionate desire to have it all over with
on any reasonable basis and to get the
members Of the families back home.
has brought into being in the last few
months q more or less powerful peace
party. The cynics argue that the
government, recognizing the existence
| of this faction, decided on n moderate
peace Offer which if accepted, would
| please the peace advocates even if not
entirely placating the pam Germans;
while if rejected, the result would be
the unlfiCation of the people and the
lobliteration of the chasm between the
peace faction and the pan Germans.
| whether the Cynics We're right OF
wrong in regard to the motives of the
government the peace move brought
about unification to degree probabl.
beyond the utmost hoped for.
An honorable and dignfied peac
is what is desired. As long as the en-
tente intends to impose terms REGARDED
by the German people as equivalent L
| | destruction or ACKNOWLEDGMENT the,
| will resent unitcdly but, the American
| observers say, there would he tn
threat of a serious rift If an opportu
nifty for a reasonable peace should pre-
sent itself and not be accepted.'