The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-08-23
3ut Small Portion Of German
Press favofs Peace Plan
BECOMES A POLITICAL ISSUE
Parties Split Over Suggestions From
vatican-Germany Cannot Consent
to Reduction Of Armament and Must
Get indemnities, Says Reventlow

London, Aug. 0.-The comment In
German newspapers reaching Amster-
dam is generally unfavorable to the
popes peace note. The German
Catholic papers express the deepest
respect for the pope's initiative, but
consider the note disquieting as far
as 1t regards Germany's interests.
The Liberal newspapers view the
note as an appeal of great hopeful
ness. The Morgen Post says that II
does not see why Germany should re-
ject the appeal, adding that 1t is well
to understand that neither the Al
SAGE Lorraine nor the Trentino ques-
tions can be submitted to any tribunal
because such questions do not ex-
list.
The Tages Zeitung, according 10
the dispatches, declares that the
pope's peace proposals would mean
Germanys ruin.
The Vossische Zeitung asserts that
Germany will rapidly solve the Bel
gian question in conformity with tne
wishes of the pope, but declares that
France must also give up all hopes
of annexing Alsace Lorraine and that
peace must bring an equilibrium.
The pope's peace proposal Is now
being dragged into the field OF party
politics in Germany and made the
subject of contention between the
nan German annexationists and advo-
Gates of moderate peace.
Georg Bernard, in the Berlin Vos-
sische Zeitung, says the popes ac-
tion has cleared up one of the mys-
teries connected with Matthias Err
berger's recent peace campaign IN
the reichstag and that the adoption by
the reichstag of his resolution was 10
nave the way for the popes note.
The terms of the ropes note ana
lthe reichstag resolution against COM
pulsory annexation continue to trouble
lthe relations of Bulgaria to her al
lies. and It has been found necessary
IN explain to Bulgaria again ana
again that Germany would interpret
the ACQUISITION of Macedonian regions
as annexation.
Vienna dispatches say the govern
ment newspapers declare emphati-
cally that 1t is impossible to cede a
foot of soil to Italy, but otherwise IT.
tie vehement objection to the popes
note is heard in Austria.
Count Won Reventlow, in The Tages
Zeitun. continues his cynical discus
sions Of German. policy. He avows In
reference to the pope's phrase on the
substitution of the moral power OF
Justice for might Of arms that the
moral law exists for the Germans
only so far as it applies to the Ger
man empire and nation. The writer
says the Germans cannot consent to a
reduction in armaments, which alone
have made possible the existence OF
the empire and the possibility OF its
moral activities.
Reventlow adds that Germany can
not bear her own war burdens and
that. therefore, she cannot renounce
indemnities and that guarantees for
Belgiums independence cannot be
found. He says also that the carry
ing out of the papal program would
mean an end to the middle European
alliance and Germany's ruin.
Annexation mass meetings continue
TO lombard Field Marshal Won Hin
denburg, Chancellor Michaelis and
Admiral Scher, commander OF the
battle feet, with protests against the
reichstag Deace resolution.