The sun., 1917-02-18
HAS
SOLID BACKING
Rupture With America
Came Just as Alarming
Condition Developed.
FOOD CONDITION SERIOUS
Lack of Transportation Also
Makes Provisioning of PeO-
pie More Difficult.

From stor Correspondent Of the Associated
Press
BERNE, Switzerland. Feb 17.-Ther,
Is no doubt in the minds Of American.
who have come to Switzerland from
Germany since the severance Of diplo
matte relations between Berlin ant
Washington that the German public to
day presents solid front. Any danger
Of serious internal disturbances such a,
has been hinted at in publications outsid,
Of Germany is regarded as being as re-
mote as 1t was many months ago. New
ertheless. the state Of public opinion
has become a pressing problem, especial,
during the last few weeks.
From these Americans. some OF whom
have had exceptional opportunities &c
study internal conditions In Germany
the following information representative
OF their generally expressed views ha,
been obtained:
The attitude OF the German people be
came more Of problem when the breal
with America occurred. not because an.
overwhelming majority was opposed tt
the break. but because II followed :,
closely on the heels of the widespread
peace talk. coming at a time when the
yearning for cessation OF hostilities hat
lately received such enormous impetus.
Peace Party still strong.
There exists in Germany. a cynical
though not disloyal. minority which
frankly believes the peace offer wal
not made in the expectation that peac,
could he brought about. but for the pur
pose OF heartening n large. but only po
tentiaily dangerous, stratum OF the pop
ulation which is tired OF war. Thi
section has been antagonixed by the un
sllencable and uncomfortable pan-Ger
man element which has clamored for th'
annexation OF everything thus far con
uuered, or at least for very material In
creases in territory. -.cf
Although naturally unorganized, thi
stratum Is very extensive. 1t has takei
the attitude that the war and the causes
thereof are none OF its affair and tina
annexations would be Of doubtful value
A majority Of this element is indifferen
as to whether Belgium is retained or re
turned. 1t longs with increasing anxiet.
for peace.
Brought About . Union.
The growing opinion that German,
cannot hope to obtain all that is de
sired by the extremists and the pas
slonate desire to have 1t all over with OF
any reasonable basis and to get thu
A. fn, ha,t ho,
brought into being In the last few month!
a more or less powerful peace party
The cynics argue that the Government
recognizing the existence Of this fac
ton, decided on a moderate peace one
which. is accepted, would please th'
peace advocates. even though not en-
tirely placating the pan-Germans whil'
ie rejected the result would be unifica
ton Of the people and obliteration o
the chasm between the peace faction anl
the pan-Gcrmans.
Whether the cynics were right o
wrong in regard to the motives Of th'
Government. the peace move brough
about unification to degree probabl!
beyond the utmost hoped for. rne Ger
man people to-day are as united as a
no other time since August OF 1914
They have the utmost faith that the sub
marines will force England to her knees
America IL Least Feared.
They are permeated with the convic
ton that "unneutral" America has al
ready done everything possible to injur,
Germany by unofficial aid to the Entent,
Allies, that It Is not to be feared eco
nomically any more than heretofore. ant
that In a military sense 1t does not count
The Germans are united. from the loves
to the highest. In the belief that the En-
tente Allies intend to dismember theil
nation and consequently are determined
to fight with the utmost energy AND
with every weapon.
The peace party, however. is only sub
merged. not entirely obliterated. and the
break with America has not removed
any OF the differences Of opinion. II Il
OF course true that the break has giver
an impetus to the aspirations OF the ex
tremists, who see In the decision of the
Government to resort to unrestricted sub
marine warfare the first concession to
their original demands.
Majority With Chancellor.
The great bulk Of the people. how
ever, is still back OF the Chancellor, anG
even under the new conditions would hi
perfectly satisfied with a solution OF
the basis OF the status quo. caring little
or nothing whether Germany obtain,
Belgium, Poland or Lithuania. Not 9
word In regard TO Indemnity. has beer
heard from these quarters since early II
tho war.
An honorable and dignified peace l.
what Is desired As long as the .Entent,
intends to impose terms regarded b,
the German people as equivalent to de
struction or dismemberment. they viii
resist unitedly. but, the American .ob
servers say. there would be 'the threa,
OF a serious rift II an opportunity fo
a reasonable peace should present itsel
and not be accepted.
SIN Hopeful Of Peace.
1t Is the estimate Of conservative Ger
mans. these Americans say. that tn,
Government would have been unsea tet
had the decision to resume unrestricted
submarine warfare really represented
'' -'-- --i--------=-r-=-.7-----.---- -.--