Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-01
PEACE WITHOUT vIcroRY.

Republic. periodical which has
more than once taken UP the cudgels
for the Entente cause" in the
course Of the war
In the last year or SO the allies
have often been urged by their
friends to state the OBJECTS OF the
war in terms that could be written
into conceivable treaty OF peace.
"Prussian militarism" and crushing
Germany" nights do as recruiting
formulas, might serve to keep the
nation in fighting trim, but as
| guide to statesmanship they were
futile. They meant everything and
nothing, new heaven and some-
times new hell.
las defined by company of
Englishmcn, which, included Lord
Curzon, Mr.. Horatio Bottomley, Mr..
Leo Maxse und Mr.. H. G.. Wells
these battle cries would mean among
other things successful offensive to
the Rhine. a parade OF victorious
| Cossacks in Berlin, weird and won
derful amputations upon Austria
Hungary, reform OF the Prusslan
electoral system, dcthronement OF
the Hohenzollerns, dissolution of
tho German empire into its princi-
/ palitiea, the surrender of the Ger
man navy, and so on in series with
out end ........
so the war dragged on, fresh al
lies were brought into the field by
promises hard to fulfill, old allies
were held tighter by dangerous COM
mitments, and all the while the
world saw an encircled ana over
matched Germany win victories in
the East. German prestige grew.
The Britain OF Ncrthcliffc, the
Britain OF the new ministry, knows
that IL il accepts negotiated peace,
no matter how moderate, the Brit
ish empire emerges from the war q
less imposing thing than ii was.
And empires exist chiefly by being
imposing things. Neither love, nor
actual physical force, but prestige
is the life OF q successful empire.
And no one can deny. no matter
what his sympathies, that British
prestige has been seriously lowered.
It was to retrieve the loss, TO
erase the impression oil blunder and
niuddle to gather Britain together
for another blow which might be q
knockout, that Mr.. Lloyd George was
made Premier And this il the
moment that Germany selects for
what is no doubt an inconsiderately
liberal offer Germany IS Offering
imperial Britain peace without VIC
tory
"Unloss the recent effectiveness
Of German diplomacy has been an il
lusion unless the virulent conserva-
tiyes require too much placating,
the terms proposed will be moderate
A restoration of the status quo ante
would soon reveal the fact that Ger
manys greatest and most enduring
conquest in this war is that Of her
own allies.
Without annexing a foot OF in
vaded territory she Is mistress OF an
empire which she has led and organ
lied from Hamburg to Bagdad, Ger
many can perfectly we'll afford to re-
store the Serbian kingdom and the
Roumanian. Both Of them will in
evitably come within the German
orbit, for while it is possible TO re-
store their technical independence,
Il is not possible 10 restore their
faith in Russia as protector OF the
Balkans.
'If peace is made now, small ma
tions adjoining the Teutonic en-
pires are likely for some time to be
~ INV man "a ESAAS3g WAAASNNi AAANJ
may be in sentiment,
Central Europe exists at Calf
poll, ut Salonica, from Roumania.
three times the allies have tried 10
cut il apart, and failed. This mid
die Europe Is no empire won by con
quest, TO be assimilated merely by
force 1t rests on the strongest kind
OF economic Foundation and Is
welded by the experience OF the war
"Gernany's bid for peace, her re-
pcrtet Willingness TO enter n league
Of nations, is request for the ae-
acknowledgement ana guaranty OF
Middle Europe. The organization OF
Central Europe requires peaceful
world.
But the existence of Central Eu.
rope destroys completely the British
theory Of continental politics The
!, theory said roughly that thore was
TO be balance OF power on tho con
tinent with Britain lowering over Il
: and prepared TO redress it by deci
sive Intervention. Ii was a role that
permitted British diplomacy to ex
crt a maximum effect with mini
mum OF force. Today Britain finds
hersclfs engaged with all her re
sources, one among large aggre
gate OF allies, and the result Is dead
2 lock Subtract Britain, and th'
: German group would be irresist
ibie
THE continental balance OF powe
Is gone, at least until Russia be
|, comes a modern state. Britain is M
longer the interyentionist who omer
I ges from isolation to set things i
e balance She is now an integral par
OF the continental system, part o
the balance Of power, instead OF it
: guardian
il ''rhc role which was Britain's i
=, passing to America, and Presiden
: Wilson's offer to join n league 70
(. peace is really a recognition Of th
4 fact that the United States ca
guarantee the equilibrium and thu
= maintain at least a temporary secu
Y lity In the world"
Iunius, III.