El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-21

----NE n00eE Ueara DToDoSaT
many It defeat because it is dividing the views
of the component parts Of the central powers alliance
and because is dividing opinion IN Germany II IS ne
toward that dsntegraton from which the greater part OF
the world hopes Germauys collapse viii unless the
enemies Of Germany able sooner TO compass that COL
lapse by force Of arms
The allied governments at first believed the PoPes pro
posals owed their origin to Berlin They were Of the oPIn
ion that the imperial government suggested to the pope the
basis on which it willing make peace This appears
mistake, for the German newspapers when TeIeot o.
fetal opinion unoffay declare IS Impossible tor Ger
many to accept the proposals without being ruined Inc
proposals may have come from Austria Hungary Inascn
as that nation long been advocate Of peace at al
any price Vienna dispatches say It would De haIo
Austria TO consider any settlement which would con
template the return Italy Of the Ost provinces along
the Adratic Nevertheless such settlement would not De
impossible for Austria that nation was willing TO
give Italy part Of the territory II queston as eoenS
ton If Italy did not enter the war what AusJIla was VII"
ing to do before Italy entered the she ought 10 be
willing TO do now a little more In the absence OF
authoritative advos is fair to assume Austa would De
willing TO make peace on the basis proposed
The case OF Germany far different There Is large
element in Germany which also ardently desires peace at
almost any price The Socialists would welcome It on the
popes terms The workers who are not Socialists, but
who have had to do most Of the hard work, most Of the
diving and most Of the starving would welcome It also
Their opinion, far as It has found expression mas an
along been for restoration Of the conquered territories
and the matter Of ndemnes would not in their opinion
be a bar peace making.
It is the ruling class in Germany the high born the
office holding class the army leaders, which Will be
found opposed violently to the pOpe proposals The view
of the amy nav be considered expressed the speech
Of Gen Won Lieber at Rathenow, Prussia, reported IN
the semi official Deutsche Tages Zeitung IN which the
general said;
1--WE cannot sign peace before We have the Flanders
coast colonial empire and maritime bases. Should we
realize this now, must prepare TO Work Tor II after
this war view Of the next war"
Count Won Reventlow, writing the paper, de-
clares against return Of Belgium to independence He
also saws Germany cannot foot her bills and must
have ndemnites be ruined He declares Germany could
not agree to reduction ornaments which is part Of the
poDe proposals. since Gemanys security has been founded
---o- 1a-ra and zfr0 mil Tar
Incidentally, in unusually frank exposition Of the
pop suggestion that moral force be substituted for force
IN arms in deciding the relations between nations declares
that moral law exists the Germans only far as It a
plies TO the German empire and people In other words
we viii apply Justice and right in relations with fellow
Germans but let the rest Of the world beware
Other German semi official journals take the same view
OF the popes peace proposals does the Iages Letun
frankly regarding them impossible OF acceptance
large part of the reichstag may be willing TO accept the
popes plan for peace The sentiment OF Its members may
ouv Be coniectured discussion IN the rechstag OF the
peace proposals scheduled for today should reveal the ma
iortv view Meanwhile the strong panGer1anist element
throughout the nation, holding meetings and bonn
harding field marshal Hndenburg, chancellor Mchaes
and the commander the battle fleet admiral Speer with
u1esssges insisting on German peace" which means
peace founded victory and conquest
All this shows what extent the German people are
divided On the popes proposal division which IS ky 10
become intensified and bitter discussion continues
We may suppose then, thai Austria favors acceptance