The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-30
That Is Prospect Ahead as Seen
in Washington Today.
Military Men See Chance for
Wars End in Reply to Pope.
UP TO GERMANY'S LEADERS
e. S. Officials Believe TeutOn
Nation Cracking Under Strain.
Hope Strong That Liberals VIII
Cast OFF Kaiser's Yoke.
BY CARL ID. GRoAT.

Washington, Aug. 3O.-Peace this
winter or~next spring as a result of
President wilson's reply to the pope
or at least two more years of war
that is the prospect ahead.
Military men and diplomats con-
structed that outlook today in the
peace situation. Insofar as the Unit
ed States is concerned, it is going
ahead with war preparations 1t VIII
not waver until the German people
have stripped the kaiser OF his pres
ent autocratic powers.
Military men believe there is
chance of peace in the presidents
note. They point out that Germany
is showing evidences of cracking un-
der the strain" and they believe the
Liberals will force reconstruction of
the German government. This must
be bonafide. state department au-
thorities said today. or it will be fu-
tile.
Up to Teuton Leaders.
It will be up to Germany's leaders
to decide whether to fight on or to ac-
cept peace now. The presidents note
is concrete evidence that the ambition
of her enemies is not to crush her.
President Wilson has declared
against dismemberment of empires
In this circumstance, the German
people for the first time can realize
that the war against her is not mer-
cenary or aggressive. but that it is one
of altruistic purposes: Hence. as
many here see it, the Liberals of Ger
many will soon force off the yoke
of kaiserism.
If however, they content themselves
with hearkening to the made-in- Ger
many plea that the war is now one of
defense insofar as Germany is con-
cerned, the struggle will go on. Mil
itary men believe that Germany will
decide either to take the chance of a
military defeat or will start real peace
negotiations now.
Can Fight Two Years.
Should she decide, however, that
there is no peace chance now or that
her arms can ultimately triumph, then
she will fight on for a year or two
more. By that time, Americas
strength will be felt in full force and
Germany's defeat will be an assured
fact.
Secretary of State Lansing did not
see today in Germany's concessions to
Argentina anything particularly sig
nificant. He pointed out that the
German government made such prem
iseS to America-only to break them
later. Others, however, thought Ger
many saw the handwriting on the wall
and was easing up on her U-boat con-
test so as to get some moral and ma
terial support from this hemisphere.
That she is looking to trade after the
war is considered obvious.
VIII Whip Russ in Line.
Russia, despite her enormous strug-
gle to keep weakening forces in line.
is heartened by the presidents note,
which, diplomats feel, makes Russia
and the United States virtual arbiters
Of peace. The answer, it is felt, may
crush the last traces of separate peace
talk in Russia.
Meantime allied diplomats gave
their word that their nations agree
with President Wilson as to abandon
ment of ideas of post-bellum trade
war. They said that if GermaEy's
claws are clipped, such wars will be
unnecessary except in isolated in
stances.
On the whole, however, observers
here saw in Wilson's expression a
notice to Germany that she will get
a fair trade deal after the war and
sign that America and the allies re-
alize blunder was committed in noti-
flying Germany she would be CONNER
cially crushed no matter now the war
ended. A certain suspicion must at
tach to German business after the
war, it is pointed out but under the
presidents ideas Germany can re-
establish her trade if she will remove
from it the taint of kaiserism