Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-10-11

President Wilson agrees with the {
League for National Unity that talk OF
peace terms before Germany Is de-
feated is futile and harmful. Such talk,
as the President rightly says, is an
evidence Of misdirected thought. It
diveris attention from the one essential
purpose this country has in view,
which is 10 put an end to the terrorist
activities OF the present German gov
ernment. IL Is idle to discuss peace
until we bring that government TO
terms. or until the German people
themselves overthrow it, repudiate its
policies of brutal aggression and show
a willingness to make renaration for
the succession OF crimes which Ger
manys rulers have committed under
the plea Of military necessity.
All the peace talk which has filed /
the world in recent months has been |
Of German origin and has served a |
German purpose The Germans are |
keen for a negotiated peace. They are |
anxious to enter into a conference in |
which they can bargain in the old |
way for terms, a concession on their !
part offsetting a counter concession on
the part Of the Entente Allies On the
basis OF the war map they would have
every advantage in q gve-and-take
settlement. They hold vast areas OF
enemy territory. They have already
consolidated, by making dependent
states OF Austrla-Hungary Bulgaria
and Turkey. that Mltteleuropa which
has been the dream of the pan-Ger-
man empire builders.
Germany is pressing for a peace on
term which will assure her the fruits
OF her sacrifices. Her present govern
ment will accept no other terms. IL
cannot afford TO rellnquish German
| conquesls and TO offer reparation for
| the damage u has done In territory
| which German armies have occupied.
! The influences now in power in Berlin
have no idea OF seeking peace except
as a means OF furtherlng national ag-
! grandzemcnt.
In the last months OF Bethmann-
| Hollwcg's chancellorship there wero
signs that the more popular OF the
| parliamentary groups were beginning
| TO despair OF victory and TO turn to-
ward peace as an end desirable in IT.
self Bethmann-Hollweg sympathlzcd
| to some extent with the war WEAKNESS
| Of The elements represented by the
Social Democratic and Center or Cath
Ollie parties. These parties forced
through the Reichstag an ambiguous
declaration in favor Of peace without
annexations or indemnties.
But Bethmann-Hollweg fell, the VIC
tim Of a reactionary movement headed
by the Crown Prince. Hindenburg and
| Ludendorff, the milltarists and the
| iunkers. The new Chancellor, Mi
chaells, has talked peace, but has alb
/ ~. a. l.a rsaNf
eminent TO any definite peace terms.
| lie is oven unwilling TO subscribe to
! the principle Of no annexatlons and no
indemniles. He cannot publicly or eX-
plicitly approve this principle, so IN
| dustriously advocated by German
agents in Russia in Sweden and else
where, making use OF the machinery
Of the international Socialist organl-
zation. If he did he would ALLEVIATE the
pan-Germans and the military leaders
and be forced to FOLLOW Bethmann-
Hollweg into retirement
The military autocracy, which still
holds Germany by the throat, cannot
in fact, propose terms Of peace which
the Entente Allies would be willing &c
discuss without paving the way FOL
It's own abdlcatlon. II would have ID
make public confession that It's lead
ershlp had failed. II would have &c
confess responsibility for catas-
trophe whose extent the German mind
still refuses to realize.
Any peace which tho non-Germar
world can consider worth while mus
involve the destruction OF the existing
German government. For when the
government grows so weak that 4
must ask for real peace, involving
a remuneration OF all Its plans Of con
T quest and spoilation, the German peO
pie will themselves turn and rend It
It can have no function any longer II
3 a Germany cured OF the militaristi
mania.
For the present, therefore, and 81
long as Michaelis continues in power
talk Of peace terms with Germany !
breath wasted. The Allies have every
thing to lose and nothing to gain b
{ entering a blind peace conference, 4
which Germany Is to DISCLOSE jus
what Of her spoil she hopes to kee
and what OF Il she is ready to surren
3 deg. II Germany wants a genuine peac
she will have to pay an enormou
price for II. Her government is nc
ready TO pay that price; neither are he
people.
7 When the Germans begin 20 car
more about peace itself than about I'll
terms OF peace II will be time enOug
TO talk peace. A peace, which will Las
] and which will secure the worl