New Britain herald., 1917-08-15
Orce an unWary world to it's

and force an unwary world to it's 1 knees.
 l From the many international trans
 actions in which Germany has taken part in the past three years it is ! easily seen that her word is not to be taken at it's face value. Beginning 1 with the tearing up of the '.scrap of ] paper which guaranteed Belgium $ 1 neutrality. there has been one long 1 series of blunders committed by 1 the Imperial German Government. l Whether these things were done for 1 necessity, military or otherwise, or for what reason matters not. The point 1 is, they have made d world suspicious of German actions. The good word of Gefmany is now looked upon as a lie. ; The worlds faith in Germany is broken. The promises of her states i men are branded as worthless. The treaties she might make would, in the present stage, be held up as coun- terfeit.
 In a word, Germany is not to be trusted. And the world at large knows it. That being the case, there is little chance of peace especially when peace at this time would be favorable to Germany. Without com ing out in the open and. suing for peace, Germany is known to want peace far more than any other bel ligerent nation. Feelers for peace have been sent out in various channels from Berlin. Between the lines there can be seen the hopelessness of the German position, as it now stands. Rather than go down to ignominous defeat, which she must do if the war continues long enough Germany would willingly invite a premature peace, a peace that would be nothing more nor less than a truce, a peace that would furnish a resting spell in which her military masters might re- cuperate and reorganize.
 The terms of peace advanced by the head of the Roman Catholic Church will be listened to attentively by all the nations of the world be- cause of the great respect which is accorded the occupant of this high of flee. And this regardless of the fact that these terms, as outlined, arc just what the Central Powers would put out if they saw fit to sue for peace Under the terms of this peace proposal Germany would get the bet ter of all the argument. All her lost colonies would be restored. There would be but a meagre settlement for the great wrongs she has perpetrated upon the civilized world, Not one inch of her own territory would be l touched. The future of Alsace-Lor l raine alone would hang in the bal 1 ance it's possessor to be determined by action of a conference at which the Central Powers would be fully and capably represented. The setting free of Belgium, Serbia, and Rou- 1 mania are assured facts regardless of ] whether the war is brought to an f end now or fought to finish. There is little doubt that all these things will be considered as In the pathway l of a peace at present. However de- sira ble such a thing might be. the 1 world will be better off when it can 1 force peace at it's own dictation and 1 not on terms that Germany might l
 
 come will work no injustice on Ger 1 many, whereas if peace is brought 1 about the other way, through Ger man scheming, the world at large 1 will suffer. Since the Imperial Ger man Government cannot be trusted, it cannot be allowed to dictate it's own peace terms. From the outlook now, it is to be a fight to the finish.