Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-18
e. ,,ss.sSritN However, Believes
% ice Offer Was Made to
Hearten Element That Is
Tired of the Struggle.
FAN GERMANS DESIRE
WHOLESALE ANNEXATION
Most of People Support Chan
ceIIor, and Would Be Salts
fled With a Solution Re-
storing Status Quo.

lev nosNiaa JOURNAL SPECIAL IxAsso ~ssI
Berne, Switzerland, Feb. II (via
Paris From a Staff Correspondent of
the Associated Press) There is no
doubt In the minds of Americans who
have come to Switzerland from Ger
many since the severance of diplo-
matte relations between Berlin and
Washington. that the German public
today presents solid front. Any
danger Of serious internal disturbance
such as has been hinted at in publi-
cations outside of Germany Is re-
garded as being as remote as it was
many months ago. Nevertheless, the
state of public opinion has become n
pressing problem, especially during
the last few weeks.
From these Americans, some of
whom have had exceptional oppor-
tunities to study internal conditions in
Germany, the following information,
representative Of their generally ex-
pressed views. has been obtained:
Purpose of Peace Offer.
The attitude of the German people
became more OF q problem when the
break with America occurred, not be-
cause of any overwhelming majority
opposed to the break, but because it
followed so closely on the heels of the
widespread peace talk coming at a
time when the yearning' for cessation
Of hostilities had lately received such
enormous impetus. There exists in
Germany synical though not dsloyal
minority which frankly believes tho
peace offer was not made in the ex-
pectation that peace would be brought
about, bat FOR the purpose or heart
ening large but only potentially dan
gerous stratum of the population
which is tired of war. This section
has been antagoniZed by the unsf-
lenceab4e and uncontrollable pan
German element, which has cllmored
for the annexation of eN Nsrythlng thus
far conquered, or at least for very
material increases in territory.
Although naturally unorganized,
this stratum is very extensive. 1t has
taken the attitude that the war and
the causes thereof are none of its af-
fair, and that annexations would be
of doubtful value. majority of this
element Is indifferent whether Bel
gium Is retained or returned. 1t longs
with increasing anxiety for peace.
Peace Party Powerful.
The growing opinion that Germany
cannot hope to obtain all that Is de-
sired by the extremists, and the pas
slonate desire to have 1t all over with
on any reasonable basis and to get the
members of the families back home,
has brought into being in the last
few months a more or less powerful
peace party. The cynics argue that
the government, recognizing the ex-
istence of this faction, decided on q
moderate peace offer which, IL ac-
cepted, would please the peace advo-
Gates, even though not entirely placat-
ing the pan-Germans; while If re-
jected, the result would be unification
Of the people and obliteration of the
chasm between the peace faction and
the pam Germans
Whether the cynics were right or
wrong, in regard to the motives of the
government the peace move brought
about unification to degree probably
beyond the utmost hoped for. The
German people today are as united as
at no other time since August, 1914.
They have the utmost faith that the
submarines will force England to her
knees. They are permeated with the
conviction that "unneutrap' America
already has done everything possible
to injure Germany by unofficial aid to
the allies that 1t is not to be feared
economically any more than hereto
fore and that in military sense 1t
does not count The Germans are
united. from the lowest to the highest,
in the belief that the entente allies In
tend to dismember their nation and
consequently are determined to fight
with the utmost energy and with every
weapon
Extremists Encouraged.
The peace party, however, Is only
submerged, not entirely ohliterated.
and the break with America has not
removed any of the differences OF
opinion. 1t is, of course, true that the
break has given an impetus to the as
pirations of the extremists, who see
in the decision of the government to
resort to unrestricted submarine war
fare the first concession to their ortgi-
nal demands. The great bulk of the
people. however, is still back of the
chancellor, and even under the new
would be perfectly satisfied
with a solution on the basis of the
status quo, caring little or nothing
whether Germany obtains Belgium.
Poland or Lithunia. Not a word In
regard to indemnity has been heard
from these quarters since early In the
war.
An honorable and dignified peace
is what is desired. As long as the
entente intends to impose terms re-
garded by the German people al
equivalent to destruction or dismem-
berment, they will resist unitedly, but,
the American observers say. there
would be the threat of a serious rift
if an opportunity for reasonable
peace should present itself and not
be accepted.
1t is the estimate of conservative
Germans, these Americans say, that
the government would have been un-
seated had the decision to resume uns