The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-27
WASHINGTON SEES
TRICKS IN TEUTON
PEACE PROPOSAL
PUT OUT TO DECEIVE GERMAN
PEOPLE AND GAIN TIME On
WESTERN FRONT.
WILSON STANDS PAT
America VIII Enter Into No Peace
Agreement With Government That
Does Not Represent VIII Of the Gov
erned People.

Washington. Dec. 27.-The conditions
surrounding Count Czernin's proposals
for a basis OF peace cause officials here
to feel some apprehension for their sim
cerity. There Is a great disposition to
feel that the object OF the German plen-
ipotentiaries Is simply to protract the
negotiations as long as possible with.
out any expectation of an immediate
peace negotiation, with the double pur-
pose TO lead the German people to be-
lieve that their rulers are really desi-
rous of gaining peace, and giving time
for the strengthening of the German
lines in the west.
Such conditions are regarded as i'm.
possible, for the present at least. for
the adherence of all belligerents must
be secured TO the peace the Germans
are trying to make before 1t can be-
come effective. This IL accompanied
by demand for the return of the Ger.
man colonies now 10 the possession Of
Russia's allies.
America Has Not Changed
II can be stated authoritatively that
the position OF the American govern
ment has not changed in any respect
with regard to it's determination to enter
into no agreemnt with q government
which does not represent the free win
OF the governed people. This would
dispose Of any hope the Germans might
have that Russians could induce Amer
lea to subscribe to the peace treaty
which they are now trying to arrange.
AS for the German colonies the Amer
lean government has never recorded IT,
self on the subject. and Lloyd George
recently declared that was a subject
for the peace conference.
No provision is made in Count Ger
Minis terms for the return to France OF
Alsace- Lorraine, which is regarded as a
condition that must be met as a pre-
liminary TO any peace agreement. an
understanding declared by President
Wilson in his message to congress.
Would Resort 10 Trfckery.
In the light of the extraordinary ef-
forts Germany mas been making to rid
those provinces of French inhabitants
it is believed here that Germany may
propose a plebiscite of inhabitants, re-
lying upon the vote of German soldiers
and the imported German population.
but such proposal probably would be
rejected by the United States and her
co-belligerents.
Apparently. Belgium is promised free
dom by Count Czernin if all the other
German demands are met. But officials
note there Is a reservation, almost in
separable from German diplomacy. in
the shape of guarantees" which Ger
many requires to insure the execution
of all these complicated factors of the
peace treaty. From public declarations
of German statesmen and publicists.
it is understood that guarantees" would
insist on retaining control of Belgium
for an indefinite period
Scheme to Retain Poland
The German insistence that the
pledge to restore the political independ-
ence of countries occupied by the Ger
manic powers shall not apply to ma
tionalities which did not previously en-
joy independence is regarded as aimed
directly at the projected Polish state.
Even were such a state created, as
result of the peace treaty. ii would
have to be on the lines of the subject
kingdom which Germany and Austria
already have created.
II is accepted by Washington officials
that the Teutonic powers are prepared
to make every effort to regain controf
of Russian trade and markets. which
are threatening to pass to America in
return for Americas substantial as
sistance IN the war.