Evening star., 1917-05-27

t4nIe OF the TronttnO ana Trieste dt0cr1ots.
u she does. then Germany. having adopt
ed the Russian policy. perforcs, may be
a0be to negotiate a separate peace with
Russia and thus break the alliance Of her
enemies. Obviously this IL her second hne
Of action. IL she does not win the war in
the field or on the sea this summer.
Another Year Of WARP
If Germany proposes peace without an
neIata0n or indemnity this winter, then
aided by a certain fraction of the people
OF France, Of Great Britain, OF Italy and
Of the United States. Tho question that
will be raised then will be whether the
peoples OF. these nations are willing and
ready to bear the burden of another year
OF war to obtain a fair settlement Of the
old questions OF Alsace-Lorraine. OF the
Italian Irredenta and for Great Britain
permanent abolition Of the German men
ace through German colonial establish
ments-a1ways provided that Austrian
and Turkish detection has abolished the
Mitteluropa peril. For while this re-
mains possibility II seems to me any
discussion Of peace 10 impossible. since
any peace preserving this central Euro
pean empire would be but truce and a
sham.
Germany means to fight now because
she thinks she can gain new territory
and obtain indemnities. Her population
Is prepared to fight on for the present in
this hope. But 1t is plain that the will
to fight will not endure beyond a fixed
people Of the allied nations have tn.
German resolution when their turn
comes to face the question OF peace
without annexation and without indenl-
nifty? This seems to me to be the great
question Of the future, and believe that
Americas course in the next few months
Will decide the question in no small de-
gree for the allies.
II the United States has begun to send
lAv, 1,IA, ,l.Avr
il American naval support has materially
aided the allies in moderating the sub
marine menace, then 1t seems to me that
there Is a sound basis for believing that
| Of 1871 and of the Austro- Italian settle
ment are righted. Then, and only then.
there will be a prospect OF the indemnf-
cation by Germany of both Belgium and
France for the most cruel and wanton
destruction in two centuries.
Russia's Remuneration.
| Meantime no one should mistake the
change in the situation. Russia has re-
nounced conquests. and this has removed
| iE the way of peace by negotiation. Aus
tria has Indicated a similar state Of mind,
| and there il sound reason for believing
| that the Austrian desire for peace may
steadily grow and as It grows open an
ever widening chasm between Vienna and
Berlin. Turkey. through the Russian de-
cision. has escaped from peril Of destruc-
| ton. and Rumanian hopes have been
| dashed. Aside from the Polish question
| there is now no really great barrier in the
! way Of peace without annexation or in
! demnity SO far as Russia, Austria and
Turkey are concerned. An equitable ar
| and between Serbia and Bulgaria is easily
| attainable.
| Russia has then destroyed the allied
plan to demolish Austria Hungary, and
the liberation Of the slav and Latin popu-
| lations becomes only remotely possible.
| unless Russia re-enters the war with the
| old program. 1t will be advantageous to
| the allies. this new situation, even with
the the defeat 4. Of their austrian plans. Il it
man leading-strings. It will be perilous
for Germany just SO long as the Germans
| risk a new Russian attack by a refusal to
accept the Russian formula.
But II Germany finds herself still
far from decisive victory next winter
and adopts the Russian program. then
| she will have the support of all her
sian formula. threaten to break the
solidarity of the ranks against her. So
long as she pursues a policy of ag-
grandizement she will have to endure
home. an opposition which will in
crease or diminish 3s she wins or loses
in her campaigns II When she changes
her ground she i'll be aided by the
favor peace without annexation as \
moral doctrine.
An Exhaustion Of Germany. -,
All things considered. however, II
seems to me necessary to recognize that
Russia has proposed a new doctrine
which is desined to have great and
growing Importance in the European
situation: It will not be OF decisive in
huence while Germany still believes
she can win some booty in land or
treasure: II will have great influence,
when the time comes. as I believe 1t
presently will. in which Germany rec
ogniEes that her greatest possible