New-York tribune., 1917-07-31
Michaelis Seeks
To Split Allies,
Washington View
rrron ne Tnbrrs Ruresul

Minister, with considerable suspicion
and as q game to split the Allies. The
Central Powers calculated 70 revive the
peace discussion and to force the En-
tente Powers and America to state
their irreducible peace terms.
Officials who have analyzed the two
utterances stated to-day that they saw
nothing new in them, no concessions,
except now the German Chancellor does
not reiterate the German charge con-
rerning who started the war, showing
q certain amount Of educatlon,' ana
bis neglect TO throw the oPProorlum OF
responsibility for the war upon the
Allies was taken here as the first slight
concession by Germany.
Pronouncements Expected
The Administration was not sur
prised by the statements OF the Ger
man and Austrian governments. IL
was said to be a rule especially with
Germany TO take advantage Of any
great advance or victory, such as Ger
man armies are now prosecuting at
Russia's expense, to take the oppor-
tunity TO renew peace agitations. more
Ugnifcance was discerned in the pres
ent instance, however, officials assert
ing their belief that il was no accident
that the statements followed so soon
after the Erzberger incident and the
Reichstag resolution. They added that
the statements were in line, also, with
tho declarations Of the Amos Pinchot-
Hillquit propaganda in America. -,
The fresh utterances Of the Central
Powers were said to constitute new
drive to affect popular. opinion in the
Allied countries and in America; in
this country, IL was thought, Chancel-
lor Michaelis sought to take advantage
of the calling out of the draft army,
Bnd in the Allied countries Of minor
peace agitations and labor differences.
Point to Old Intrigue
The note Of the German government
Of December II was characterized as
the first peace drive by Germany, but
st that time Germany was convicted of
not acting in good faith, even with the
United States. At that time. also, Ger
many proposed q peace Of understand
ing, but America discovered the Berlin
Foreign Office was acting a double part.
While seeking TO enlist Americas SYM
pathy and assistance in instituting
peace negotiations, Germany was plan
ming 70 embroil the United States IN
war with Mexico and Japan.
1t was also learned to-day that, while
Germany was seeking 10 open way
for peace exchanges, she not only re-
fused to indicate her terms, but de-
lberately attempted to mislead the
world by falsifying, presenting two
different sets Of terms, one in America,
through the German Ambassador,
Count Won Bernstorff, and the other IN
Europe, through diplomatic officers.
The United States completely lost
faith in the sincerity of the imperial
German government at that time,
learning that responsible German off,
cials had declared that neither set of
terms, as announced in either America
or Europe, would really be acceptable
10 the German government.
Proof of Bad Faith
Germany's bad faith was discovered
by this country when the governn ent
tried to discover what was behind her
various peace efforts, sounding out
every possible source Of reliable infor-
nation in Europe.
The terms. as stated by Count Won
Benstorf, were said 70 be "a balloon
sent UP to try out the winds" II was
pot doubted here that the ambassador
was instructed 70 define Germany's
terms as ne did. and there was like
wise no doubt Of the intention of the
German government to repudiate them
Neither is IL doubted to-day that Ger.
many wants peace, IL was said, but
Germany has not vet sought II in the
only way in which it is obtainable.
At Allied embassies no surprise was
expressed at ANYTHING In the Mlchaeli'
and Czernin utterances.
Neither at the State Department no,
1T the embassies was ii possible TO Sc
cure any confirmation of the charge,
made BY Michaelis concerning alleget
French designs upon German territor,
other than Alsace-Lorraine II was be
lieved this portion of the Chancellor
remarks would be appropriately deal
with by the French ministry.
Allies Primary Demands
II was declared, however, that thu
Allies are resolved never 10 permit TIL,
Central Powers 10 have peace until oc
cupied France, Belgium, Luxembourg
Russia and Serbia are restored ant
Austria is dismemhered upon national
istic lines. England, ii was stated, il
not 50 irrevocably committed to the re
tention Of Germany's African colonies
ts 70 exclude the possibility Of thei
being restored, in part IL not in whole
70 Germany. II Is recognized, il wa
said in q diplomatic quarter, that Ger
many has an annual surplus Of populs
tion and that the best practicable so
luton OF this problem, having in view
the future Of peace in Europe, is th'
possession of colonies.
All the Entente powers are deter
mined however, that the General En-
pres shall pay for the destruction
they have wrought upon Allied terri
tories and that peace is impossible un
ill guarantees shall have been OBJ
tained that France, Belgium anC
Serbia shall be iniemnifed.
The hope was also expressed tha'
opinion In the United States appreci
ates the necessity Of such a peace al
the Allies are fixed IN their resolve U
impose upon Germany and Austria
No other preventive Of a succession o.
wars in Europe is possible, il was de
elared, than 20 destroy the wsr-makini
power In Germany and 20 make Ger
many compensate the victims Of he
aggression and waHton destruction.
Lansings Speech an Answer
Everywhere the speech Of Secretsr!
Of State Lansing AZ Madison Barracks
n. Y, although spoken in advance o
the publication Of the CZernin ant
Niehael.s statements, was taken as
complete answer 70 them. The creates
satisfaction was expressed in Entent
cirele1 Of both the content and the tom
Of tho Secretary's declarations.
The view was also expressed In Ad
rainistration circles that, in addition
10 sowing distensions in Allied eoun
tries. with Russia particularly In view
tbe German Chancellor and the Austro
Hungarian Foreign Minister spoke FOL
egeet uyOn their OWL peoples as well