Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-12-28

assorgen4is the answer Of the French
70 the peace. proposals now being: dis !!
1sassed On the Eastern front. Press
and public alike see in the dellbera-
tons a mask for Interior German de-
signs. The theory that the Central
Powers and the Russian radicals are
working in concert is not without
supporters.
The Temps voices the opinion OF q
large element when it says:
"a pretext of war, a stimulant for
the war, that's all the masters o.
Germany seek when speaking u
peace. Cannot the allied governments
denounce and foil this perfdy oS
preparing for war to the finish,
which the German staff wants =
The press does not doubt that the
German government anticipates the
failure of the negotiations; but IN
this event, it is feared, the Imperial
policy will have the advantage OF re-
awakening in the German people the
enthusiasm and rage that are need-
ed for the execution Of the long and
difficult offensive ON the Western
front. toward which fresh troops are
reported to be moving.
The junkers, it is felt here, wani
to convince the German people tina!
Germany is powerful enough to ven
nuish the allies in the West. The.
seek to spread the belief among th'
masses that it lis the purpose OF th'
| allies to crush Germany and that t"i
! this reason the allies themselves mus
be crushed.
Washington, Dee. 2e.-Presloen'
Wilson will. it is understood, WASTE
little time or thought over the pcacs
Itcrms which the Teuton powers pro
posed to the Russian BolshcvlIil &c
leratcs through Count Czernin, Sa'
| Austro-Hungal.ian foreign minister.
The terms are regarded here
simply another familiar move III IN
| German game of using peace talk u
a weapon to weaken enemy govern
nlcnts with their own peoples ana ],
:, tonic for the w;ir-weary spirits o
people at home. This latest IeaSo'
peace bid is in some respects IN
most cunning and deceptive OF al.
It admittedly has the outward 2p'
ucarance Of being extremely lbcra
and conciliatory. punctuated Us II i
with such catch phrases a. no an
neyations and no indemnities" .
"te,ms lust 10 al he!ligcrcntS.'
etc.
In this respect and i'll the vague
and confused outline it presents II
has {. strong tendency to keep tnt
Russian Bol=lcTilii engaged in,fur5hc.
negotiations during which time Ger
many is free to move troops TO ths
Western front
Excepting US demonstrating again
!how cunnjngly Germany attempts &c
use peace talk for war purposes. tbs
so-callcd terms has little interest foi
the United States government. un1el
official scrutiny and studied in IL,
light of information available at thc
State Department the terms ignora
practically every vital principle fct
which the war has been wagcd by INC
United States and the entente.
Count Czernin's speech at Brcst-
Litovsk means:
That the central powers viii make 20
restoration or concessions whatso-
ever until and unless I'LL bclligcrcnts
subscribe tc the principle Of ~"
torciblc lamentations Or indemnitics. "
That--in the Hypothetical case 81
the allies joining the peace negotia-
ticus OH the basis OF the above prin.
ciples-Gcrmany is willing:
! /. To eracuate all occupied terri.
tories.
9. To restore Belgium. Serbia.
Montenegro and Rumauia to political
independence.
That Germany insisted upon The re-
turn of her colonies and opposes
Lloyd Georges plan to make the
wishes and interests OF the popufa-
tions the dominant factor IN the de-
ciSion Of their fate.
That Germany refuses:
|. To restore alsuce-L'orruinc.
.. 10 restore PrussIau Poland.
That Austria-llungary refuses:
/. To restore Italian lrredenta.
. 70 restore Hungary, Bohemia,
and other formerly independent na-
t.omllitics IN tic llapsburg empire.