Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-30
:TEUTON PEACE BID
is TAKEN LIGHTLY
British See. No Hope While
Enemy cIipgs to Conquered
Lands.
THINK DELAY CHIEF OBJECT

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, July S0.-Statements by Dr.
Michaelis, German imperial chancellor.
and Count Czernin. the Austro-Hun-
garian foreign minister, which are re-
garded here as obviously made in collu-
sion. dominate the news columns Of the
morning papers. They are generally
treated editorially as a sign of weak
ness, while the absence of reference to
the future of Belgium and Serbia Is
considered to exclude all credence IN
the desire for peace by understanding.
Austro-German peace talk. unless ac-
companted by an undertaking to evacu-
ate and restore conquered territories, Is
declared merely to be aimed at delay
ing Americas preparations for war.
Herr Michaelis' accusations against
France are dismissed by some common
tators as best left for reputation by
French allies. but discussed by others
one of which says the story is too thin
even for the Germans to believe.
Would State War Aims.
The Daily News, however. maintains
chat although the chancellor's state
ments are valueless as evidence. they
that a statement Of war aims to be.
formulated at the coming conference of
allies must constitute an explicit dis
avowa1 of all thought Of conquest for
conquest's sake. The paper denounces
the Ignorance or the folly of Sir Ed
ward Carson's threat to drive Germany
behind the. Rhine" which. 1t says. has
given Herr Michaelis a weapon which
he was swift to use.
ut is in the power of the allies to
render the ewapon innocuous even turn
ing 1t against himself, but the repudia-
ton of his charge must come quickly
and in a form leaving no loophole for
misinterpretation."
German Soil Not Wanted.
The Chronicle proclaims its belief
that it would be unwise for the allies
to deprive Germany of genuine Ger
man soil. 1t points out that while the
chancellor talks Of vast territorial
notifications, he mentions only the saar
valley, and it suggests that France may
be aiming to restore the old German
frontier Of Lorraine. which would In
of from Ave to fifteen miles"
If France desired this for strategic
reasons the Chronicle would not say
she necessarily had the right, but 1T
not comparable for an instant to Ger
many's seizure of two large provinces
In 1871. It must be remembered. too,
that after losing some millions In killed
and wounded in a war forced upon her
and wherein she has borne the brunt
of battle for liberty throughout Europe.
France has the right to make excep-
tional claims for her future security
such as Germany had not in 1871, and
no other state. unless Belgium would
have. today.
British "War Will" Resented.
BERLIN, Saturday, July 2s, via Lon
don, July 30.-Comfn enting on the adj
dresses made in the house Of commons
July 26 by ex-Premier Asquith and A.
Bonar Law. chancellor of the exchequer,
in which they dealt with the peace
resolution adopted by the German
reichstag, Vorwaerts says:
Between the unqualified and sincere
love Of peace Of James Macdonald, So
cialist and labor member Of the house
of commons. and the unconditional war
win of the conservative, Bonar Law.
lies the somewhat qualified war will of
the former liberal premier, Asquith
The latter. it would seem, Is ready for
independents Of Belgium. He also prob
ably would be ready to discuss the
question Of Belgian indemnity. With a
government, however. which is animat-
ed by the spirit of Bonar Law and Sir
would be one Of AFFECT surrender.
George ]. Wardle. chairman Of the
British labor party. refers to Asquith,
hut talks like Bonar Law. He demands
Of the German people that 1t should
dictated by foe who is animated by
lust of conquest. Such force, however.
the German nation must leave to the
entente armies, and 1t will'continue to
oppose 1t, as has been done before.
III Chairman Wardle Is Of the opiln-
ion that he is not noticing among the
German majority socialists spirit of
repentance we would reply that the
German workingman would only ex-
perience repentance IL he left his coun-
try in the lurch in the face of a ten
fold foe. The workingmen haven't
done SO and do not propose to DO So"
Sought Accord in Belgium.
The vossische Zeitung says: The
fact that Germany desired to arrive at
an understanding with England re-
gariing Belgian neutrality before the
outbreak Of the war and that England
made such an understanding impossi-
bile would seem to be unknown to
Chancellor Bonar Law and Mr.. AS
quith. who was war premier and at
umstance.
The English government now dis
putes the power anu authority of the
German reichstag and it's ability to
give tHe hatioh poHtlcS official direc-
ton. Only one answer is possible in
the face Of such an attempt: The rep
resentatives of the German people must
demonstrate that they are in posses-
sion OF this disputed authority and are
able to exercise it. II the German neo-
pie succeed in convincing continental
Europe of this fact then the chief Eng
iish war aim will have been disposed
Of" 'po'eu
Senators Divided in Views