The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-04

it is much more likely-and it is clear
from passage in his speech-that
since his visit to headquarters he has
adopted the military standpoint with
out qualification This passage runs:
'T have the fullest understanding for
peace arrangements. I understand
the call for clearness which comes
to me from right and left, but in the
matter of THE declaration Of peace
aims the only right course for me is
the speedy and happy ending Of the
war;" I'll
What do these vague words mean?
Clearly, that Herr Won Bethmann
makes the war-aims depend on the
result of the war, and that from the
entire-situation he expects a speedy
and happy ending of the war. I will
not venture to differ from him in this
view, for I do not trust myself to
judge Of the military possibilities of
our position and its eventual issue.
But can speak on the question Of
whether the Imperial Chancellor does
right to treat the question of war
aims from one-sided standpoint and
without taking into account all the
other factors, And here think that
this position of Herr Won Bethmann
is very regrettab1e and very unfortu-
nate. The Imperial Chancellor seems
clearly as a consequence of the great
success of the submarine war and the
failure OF the English and French as
mics to break through on the French
northern front, to believe in such an
issue of the war that the decisive VIC
tory will rest with the Germans. and
it will be for Germany to dictate
peace.
Far be it from me to put Herr Won
Bethmann in the wrong in this view;
such an assurance is very encourag-
ing. But cannot help remarking
that after these words he cannot
wonder if he hears very soon from
our enemies in Russia, France and
England that it is now certain that.
Germany, intends annexations, and
that the only reason for his silence
till now is, that he wished to await
the issue of the. war before bringing
forward his proposals. Less than
ever will our enemies be disposed to
peace, and they will use, the words
of the Imperial Chancellor to per-
suade their unhappy peoples Of the
necessity of continuing the war. He
will also have to hear that it is i'm
possible to- deal with statesman who
values his own word so lightly that
he mas at the beginning OF the war
solemnly promised to- rehabilitate
Belgium, and to- compensate her for
the wrong which, according to his
own expression, Germany has been
forced by necessity to inflict upon
her while now there is no more talk
of this. It might even happen that
the, Allies might represent that they
could not enter into peace-negotia-
lions with Germany until change
has occurred in the chief office of
the German Empire.
The refusal to answer. the interpret
lation regarding war-aiIns is. in my
Judgment. more than an error-it Is
nothing less than tragic fatality. For
we have thereby let slip the lost op-
portunity of Germany to make peace
| through the mediation of Russia and
to lay the foundation of an enduring
friendship with the new Russia. say
expressly a peace through Russia s
mediation, and respecting Russia
would rightly regard it as a mean i'm
putation. If one expected from him
that in the hour of it's greatest need
| he should leave in the Iurch the
French people which has sealed with
| it's blood its faithfulness to the Rus
sian alliance.