Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-24
THE PRUssIAN PEACE SHAM
(Medford Mail Tribune)

One has only to read Former Ambas-
sador Gerard s narrative to be convinc-
ed, if ne were not before, that any
peace talk from America is interpreted
in Germany as weakness and that the
only language German autocracy un-
derstands is blood and iron. For three
years President Wilson did his utmost
for peace and was laughed to scorn
while German aggression upon Ameri-
ca became bolder and bolder, forcing
the United States to demonstrate its
grim readiness to fight for its rights.
A million Americans on the battle line
will win respectful hearing fir peace
roposals-because it is might that CON
stitutes right to the German mind.
The sham character of the peace pro-
pOsals made by Germany last winter
and since reiterated are fully exposed
by Mr.. Gerard. When Chancellor Won
Bethmann- Hollweg was asked by Mr.
Gerard what his peace terms were, he
was evasive. When asked, care the
Germans willing to withdraw from Bel
gium?" the chancellor replied:
Yes, but with guarantees. We must
possibly, have the forts Of Liege and
Namur. We must have other forts and
garrisons throughout Belgium. We
must have possession of the railroad
lines. We must have possession of the
ports and other means of communica-
tions. The Belgians will not be allowed
to maintain an army, but we must be
allowed to retain large army in Bel
GUM. We must have the commercial
control of Belgium We cannot allow
Belgium to be an outpost of England. "
In addition, Won Tirpitz is quoted as
declaring that the coast of Flanders
must be retained by Germany, in order
to make war on Endland.
The following conversation followed
between Mr.. Gerard and the chancel-
lor:
Chow about northern France?"
"We are willing to leave northern
France the chancellor responded,
"but there must be a reetification of
the frontier"
How about the eastern frontier?"
"We must have very substantial
rectification of our frontier.
elbow about Rumania?"
eve shall leave Bulgaria to deal
with Rpmania. -
elbow about Serbia?"
A very small Serbia may be allow
ed to exist, but that is a question for
Austria. Austria must be left to do
what she wishes to with Italy, and We
must have indemnities from all, coun.
tries, and all our ships and colonies
back
OF course, "rectifieation OF the froI-
tier" is polite term for "anuexa-
tion, says Mr.. G, rard.
Here is the official German idea of
a peace without annexations an
enslaved Belgium, a Germanizcd north
ern France, Courland and Poland Ger
man provinces, Serbia an Austrian
province, Rumania enslaved h7 Bull
garia, Italy mulcted by Austrian
enlarged Germany dominating central
Europe from the North sea to the
Baltic to the Black and Adriatic seas
beyond to the Persian gulf-indemni-
ties from the countries Germany has
raped, pillaged and slaughtered, includ-
ing America, and all her ships and col
onies back.
Such peaee is possible only for
triumphant Germany. ANY serious dis
cussion of peace at the present time
will be interpreted by Germany as
by fear of her prowess-a sign
of failure by the allies. 1t will be seiz-
ed upon as an interval of regeneration
to renew the struggle for 'Deutsch-
land uber Allies.
America and our allies are discussing
peace in the only terms Germany can
mprehend-armed might. The best
possible peace arguments are the Brit