New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-09-22
PEACE TALK FILLS PRESS
OF GERMANY.
Government Silent, But Gives
Newspapers Free Rein To
Discuss Subject.

London, Sept 1.-THE crop O
;so-ealled peace rumors that thu
German censor is permitting tt
;sprout in leading German news
papers, conyinces the London
press and public that Berlin !:
preparing home opinion for anoth
,er adroit peace maneuyer which
probably will take definite shape
before the snow flies.
First came the alleged British
peace offer which, notwithstand
ing official denial, is still being
commented upon excitedly N
Germany. Now much fuel has
been added to the agitation by
the report that the German gov
eminent has abandoned claims OF
supremacy and control over the
territory and population in Bel
GUM. In addition there are all
sorts of rumors regarding the
German answer-to the Pope.
A strange thing about the whole
affair is that the German govern
ment as represented by the censor
appears to be permitting the
newspapers to discuss the matter
freely. but so far is known none
of the discussion is founded on
more substantial authority than
the indefinite eve understand .
or "we have received.
The Westminster Gazette
quotes the Berlin correspondent
of the Koelnische Volks Zeitung
as saying that from an official
source there is no truth in the
report that Germany intends to
declare an abandonment Of her
claims on Belgium.
The Gazette points out that the
message is not necessarily an Of
fetal denial that Germany has de-
cided to renounce all claims on
Belgium.
The Evening Standard says:
3'The German censor is per-
hitting German paper to publish
reports that Germany is to climb
down and renounce any claim to
supremacy over Belgium
The Poll Mall Gazette adds:
"Another step forward has been
taken in the carefully engineered
peace campaign in Germany"
The Star says it : is significant
that the German censor is per-
uniting such publications, add
ing:
1T would certainly be an i'm
portant step in the direction of
peace. but does not in itself in
sure the success of the negotia-
lions. and as the press is silent
about similar Tumors' about the
future Of Alsace- Lorraine, the
Trentino and Serbia, it would be
folly to build and high hopes
there is no sign that the rulers Of
Germany and Austria are in
more chastened mood than they
were a year ago.
A dispatch to the Central News
from Amsterdam says:
"a careful reading of German
papers leads to the belief that re-
ports of British peace cffer
were circulated simply with the
object Of making it easy for the
German government to rally to
the attitude of the Reichstag ma
jority," and the whole thing is
an adroit maneuver engineered
by DR.. Won Kuehlmann, the Ger
man foreign secretary.
It would not surprise London
If Germany first directed efforts
or feelers for peace to the Uni.
ted States. In fact. some quart
-ers expect this move. They are
satisfied. however. that the Uni
ted States. being determined to-
get on with the war, will not be
misled by any German move
which either will be designed to
bring about German peace or
80 to cloud the atmosphere as to
enable the German government to
say to the German people:
1--WE are willing to make peace,
but the Entente Allies will have
.s,nvn ~ ~ -