New-York tribune., 1917-12-23
Peace Wanted Be-
cause Each Day
War Continues Is
aLOst Battle for
Germany
Copyright 1e17-The Tribune Associates


her peace proposal to the Allies, they may
have to confront the accomplished fact Of
Russian surrender and German suprem-
acy in the East. In this case they will
have 10 decide whether TO continue to fight
for the creation Of a real Poland, actually
independent Of Germany, or to accept the
situation as it exists and leave Germany
in possession of her Russian profit
Balkans . Tangls
Turning to the Balkans, the situation is
less clear. Germany cannot propose re-
turn to 1914 conditions there, as she will
on the West in fact, and in the East in
appearance, because her Bulgarian ally
not only demands certain Rumanian, Ser
bian and Greek territory, but already pos
sesses it, and her Austrian ally will not
consent to the restoration Of Serbia.
Hence it is fairly certain that the Ger
man proposal, with reference to the Bal
kans, will be vague. Russia has aban-
doned Serbia, and why should the Allies
concern themselves with it? This will be
the German logic, and at the most one
may expect the Germans to propose that
the Balkan question be carried to the
green table and settled at the peace con-
ference.
AS for Turkey, the Germans will not sur
render their influence in the Ottoman EN-
pire. But since their influence is covered
by Turkish sovereignty, they will demand
that Turkey be restored to her old frou. /.
tiers and that Britain eyacuate Mesopc-
tamia. They will demand at least share Y
id the protection Of Palestine, if a separate
state is to be erected there, as their own
Jews and Roman Catholics will doubtless
demand. But this detail would not neces-
sarily raise any impossible barrier to
settlement.
A Semblanee Of Sincerity
Such, in brief, are the bases Of the next
German peace proposal 1t can have q
semblance Of sincerity only if 1t actually
agrees to a restoration Of the conditions
of 1914 in the West. BY creating an au-
tonomous Poland and Lithuaaia in the East
the Germans can not improbably give
color to the argument that they are max
ing no annexations in the East, and point
to Russian acquiescence as closing the de-
bate. In the Balkans they must satisfy
Bulgaria and Austria, and they can,
therefore, make no suggestion of restor-
ing Serbia, and on this point Allied agree
ments and American declarations are clear
and definitive. AS far as Turkey is con-
cerned, the situation is more complicated.
Neither France, the United States nor
Italy is in any temper to pursue war to
procure the partition Of Turkey; Russia
has abandoned her claim to the Dar-
danelles, and Britain is concerned only
about the safety of India and Egypt.
Not a Basis for Negotisticp
AS to German colonies, some Of them
are irrevocably lost. The Japanese and
Australians will not, under any circum-
stances, return their conquests; the South
west Africa, which was used as base for :
German intrigue and Boer treason. But
the British and French would probably
consent to restore the Kamerun and Ger
man East Africa, provided Germany
showed readiness TO discuss Alsace-Lor-
raine and the Italian-speaking districts Of
Austria. But there is not much chance
that Germany will discuss Alsace-Lor,
raine now, whatever next year may bring
forth.
|. | do not think the German peace pro-
posal will be basis for negotiation, be-
cause do not believe Germany is yet pre-
|, pared to make concessions which would
still be necessary. But lido expect that
Germany will now admit the necessity o.
surrendering Belgium and Northern
. France, and conceive it possible that she
may. when this proposal is rejected, seek
, To continue the debate by offering certain
, concessions, possibly in the West and
more probably in her old colonial empire,
as the price Of permission to draw her
. own frontiers in Russia and in the
Balkans.