New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-01
No German Peace

are not ready TO assent TO German peace.
It has been evident alike to the leu
tonic combination, to the Entente nations
and TO neutrals not blinded by an intense
desire for peace for its own sake that any
peace negotiations entered into now and
conducted on the basis Of the existing mill
tary situation must inure almost exclu-
siyely to GermSny's benefit.
Germany is to-day at the height Of her
military prestige. She has practically
completed her military programme. She
has established her supremacy in Central
Europe, secured her gateway to the Orient,
linked up Bremen and Bagdad and created
a buffer Polish state on her eastern Dor
der as a barrier against Russian invasion.
She has achieved results which may fall
short Of the dreams Of world empire in
dulged by the extreme Pan-Germsnists-
by the Bernhardis and Treitschkes. But
what she has already achieved gives her
that place in the sun" which her states
rnen have long coveted, and represents an
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of German influence in
Europe which if maintained and consoli-
dated, would in most German minds fully
repay the costs and sacrifices Of the war.
II Germany could now conclude give
aud-take agreement with her enemies she
would necessarily emerge from the war
victorAif not decisively victor in the
military sS55e, yet still an indisputable
garne{f'of the fruits Of victory.
The Entente powers say that they can
not afford to begin peace negotiations
based on the present war map of Europe.
From their point Of view that map repre-
sents only passing phase Of the military
situation. They are confident that they
can change it by force Of arms and can
secure basis Of negotiation far more
favorable to them than the existing basis.
Having that confdence-being convinced
that their strength will grow as that of
the Teutonic alliance weakens-it would
he an objectionable weakness on their part
10 seek now an accommodation with Ger
many in which the latter would seem to
weld a portion Of her conquests more
through generosity than through neces-
sity.
Germany has a big balance to trade with
in the shape Of occupied enemy territory.
At a peace conference called now she
could not be expected to do all the yield
ing. She would inevitably retain those
portions Of her conquests which she was
most eager to retain.
She occupies Belgium, large section OF
Northeastern France, Luxembourg, Poland,
Courland parts Of Lithusnia and Nolhy-
ma. two-thirds Of Rumania, Serbia Mon
tenegro and part of Albania. Her Aus
+rian ally has lost Bukowins and small
sections Of Galicia and Istria. Turkey has
lost Armenia Germany herself has lost
her oversee colonies, worth little to her
- long as she can open an overland route
from the North and Baltic seas to the
He'd Sea and the Persian Gulf.
\ Any normal adjustment Of balances IN
q peace congress neld now would inevita
BY leave Germany stronger than she was
before the war began. Even if the Kaiser
should voluntarily strip himself Of all his
cciocests even II he should be willing to
restore the territorial status gao Of July
1gl4-he would still have vastly consoli-
dated German power Germany has formed
% close working union with Hungary; she
has almost annexed Austria. She has
made tributary states of Bulgaria and
Turkey She has won the lasting attach
nent Of toe present King Of Greece. She
RS erected a Central European empire
stretching from the Kiel Canal TO the
Tuphrates. the Tigris and the Indian
Ocean. Even a restoration Of the ostensi-
bic status quo Of July, 1914, would leave
her more formidable than ever in pc
Iitical and military sense-s greater peril
than ever TO the peace Of Europe and Of
the world.
The Entente nations could not hope to
achieve the purposes Of their alliance
through any treaty negotiated on the basis
of the existing military situation. They