Evening star., 1917-01-13
A Peace Margin in the Reply.

A Peace Margin in the Reply.
The peace proposals of the allies offer
possible range of negotiation despite
their peremptory demands in respect to
the restoration of territories occupied by
the central powers since the war began.
In respect to the repatriation of nation
ais and territories wrested from certain
nations before this conflict there is a
wide margin of possible adjustment.
Italians. Slavs. Rumanians and Tcheeo-
Slovaques are definitely mentioned, it
is true, pointing to the restoration of
the Trentino and the north Adriatic
areas to Italy, of Bosnia and Herzego-
vina to their original status, of Tran
sylvania to Rumania and of the Istrian
shores of the Adriatic to a semiautono
nous sovereignty. possibly under ltal-
ian control. But these are not distinctly
defined. Nor is it positive that the
provinces of Alsace and Lorraine are re-
garded as assuredly to be returned to
France under this stipulation. Room is
allowed in the basic proposition for
trading in case peace conference should
result from the present exchanges.
The positive declarations refer to the
restoration OF the newly occupied areas,
Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, the part
of France now held by Germany and
that part of Russia held by Germany
save Poland, which is to become an
autonomous state under Russian hegem-
ony. In respect to Poland the issue be-
tween the entente and central powers is
solely as to the overlordship, the nomi-
nation of the monarch. Under the ex-
pected German terms the Polish ruler
would be a Teuton, while under the en-
tente terms he would be either a Rus
sian or one closely allied with the Rus
sian government.
Reparations and indemnities, as re-
Quired by the allies, are elastic in their
possibilities. Their proposal naturally
presupposes an entente victory, or the
dominance of the entente forces in the
field, and in the peace conference. Save
on such a basis Germany could not be
expected to consider any form of COM
pensations. The ancient doctrine that
to the victor belongs the spoils holds
good today to the extent that defeated
many's war fund in this contest was
founded chiefly upon the heavy indem-
nity exaeted from France after the
Franco Prussian war. A wide range of
possibilities exists with respect to the
size of the reparation payments to be
exacted from the loser in this war. The
cost of the conflict has been appalling.
No single nation could bear the burden
of an indemnity that would fully reim-
burse the victor in terms of money out
lay, property loss and human life.
No mention is made of colonies. They
are left to later suggestion. Possibly it
is the intention of the entente powers to
assume that if vanquished Germany will
necessarily be stripped of those distant
possessions which have been seized by
the allied forces, but that their return
70 Germany is proper subject of peace
pegotiations.
Viewed in detail, the entente reply to
the President affords possible basis
for peace pariey. unless Germany re-
jects absolutely the premise on which
N ia Inn that of dom ipa tho
war of the allied arms. The various ut
teranees of German statesmen, in
speeches and diplomatic papers. are in
spired by contrary view. Germany
contends that her forces have won. This
the entente denies, while admitting that
its own forces must still drive the Teu-
tons from their soil Unless a decided
change comes in the military situation
there is small chance of an early ad-
mission by either side of the possibility
of peace dealings based on the theory
of victory for the other side.
Germany has vet to advance specific
terms, though the first to move for
peace Through the good offices of
President Wilson she has learned the
broad maximum of the entente Will
she rejoin with her own maximum, and
will that maximum be too far removed
TO permit any further negotiations' A
few days should bring an answer
Ahout the only thing IN ha Ga;1 -,