Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23

and northern France, as well as recent
~ conquered Italian districts, there 10
not the smallest prospect that his foes
will even listen to his suggestions.
These things he must offer. and these
things hts own people and his own COM
mercial interests recognize are fnevi-
table. Therefore. it seems to me certain
that the next German peace proposal
will carry with it the frank assertion
that Germany is prepared to go back to
the situation of 1914 on the west III
she" does not, it will simply mean that
the military party has complete control.
and that it is risking. inviting. a do
nestle reaction. which is assured. in the
vain belief that it can still conquer.
Demands Upon Germany.
But will a proposal to go BACK to the
boundaries of 1914 satisfy? 7 do not
think so. France will still demand AL
Lorraine. Britain will unauestion-
ably support the French demand. Italy
will demand Trieste and the Trentino,
and the British and French will support
this demand. In addition. and far more
important, the allies will ask the res
toration of Belgium and northern
France: they will demand that Ger
many provide indemnities for the re-
building of the cities and the rehabili-
tation of the farming and mining dis
tricts wrecked. not as an incident of
legitimate war. but detail in the
German program of terribieness = and
this demand. 1t seems to me certain, the
United States will support.
We may assume. however. that IL
Germany's concessions on the west are
specific she will still seek her reward
in the east and southeast. She is max
ing a separate peace with Russia and
in this peace Russia has ignored her
allies. The first reports of the German
terms indicate that Germany means to
ask all of the territory she has con-
quered. some 10000 square miles, with
0,000.0 of people. pushing the Rus
sian frontiers back to the boundaries
of 1895. She plans to divide this ter
ritory into two states. Poland to be
annexed, in fact IL not interms. by Aus
tria; a Lithuania to be similarly an
nexed to Germany. In both cases she
will assert that she is liberating a
small nation and giving unity to an
oppressed race. Actually. of course.
she will be creating two more subject
states.
But even more important is the as
sertion that Germany means to demand
control of the Russian wheat market
for some years and free entrance for
her manufactures into Russia. This. as
many Russians have already pointed
out. means the economic seryitude of
Russia. 1t means that Germany will
seize the Russian market, that Russia
will become dependency of German
industry, capital and commerce. In the
vast Russian empire Germany is then
the counterpoise for her lost markets
the world over.
tits far from unlikely that those who
control Russian policy today will agree
|, to these terms. because the vast inert
Russian population desires INN edia tie
peace at any price, and those who con-
troll are eager to retain power at any
cost to their country Thus. even be-
fore Germany makes her peace pro-
posal to the allies they may have to
confront the accomplished fact Of Rus
sian surrender and German supremacy
IN the east. In this case they will have
to decide whether to continue to fight
for the creation of a real Poland ac-
tually Independent of Germany, or to
accept the situation as it exists and
leave Germany in possession of her
Russian profit
! Less Clear in Balkans.
Turning to the Balkans the situation is
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
kans, will be vague. Russia has aban-
doned Serbia, and why should the allies
concern themselves with 1t? This win 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
surrender their influence In the Ottoman
empire But since their influence ia