The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-10
WILL GERMANY
SOON ASK PEACE?
BELIEF IN OFFICIAL LONDON is
TEUTONS WILL MAKE PRO
P0SAL BEFORE WINTER
REVOLUTION POSSIBLE
Unless Rulers Can Get Out of War
with Some Kind Of Gain in an RcOn-
omic Sense the People VIII Turn on
Them Is Belief in Britain.

London. August 27-Througout Off.
cial London the belief is held that a
very definite peace offer viii come
from Germany before winter and that
the offer win suggest immediate cessa-
tion Of hostillties as status quo ba-
sis
Entente statesmen have fully indicat-
ed that they viii refuse such terms
and no doubt Germany is aware OF
this. But German leaders argue a
status quo offer from the German side
as an indispensable step in the prepar-
alton Of German public opinion for
further concessions.
A high official authority gave the
Associated Press today the following
statement Of the situation I'm Germany
as regards peace;
There is no doubt that the German
government is anxious to get out Of
the war at the earliest possible moment
on any terms which will insure them
against revolution at home and national
collapse.
Great numbers Of people in Germany
would welcome a peace on a status quo
basis, by this, meaning practically a
draw in which no belligerent would oc-
cury any territory beyond that which
it possessed in July, 1914, and in which.
moreover, each side would bear its own
burden in respect Of the material losses
incurred during the course Of the war.
But IL is impossible to say how Ear
this view has spread among the Ger.
man proletariat, because naturally
where It exists II has had small oppor.
tunity Of public expression.
When Pressure Grows Tighter.
1t is obvious that If the German peo-
pie ultimately come to accept a net loss
Of territory as inevitable, they must
pass TO that frame of mind through
ihe intermediate stage Of willingness TO
accept status quo peace. II the war
continues to go against Germany. test
{ offers TO conclude such peace viii
certainly be made as soon as the pres
sure reaches a certain point.
Since Germany's so-called peace offer
a year ago, the continued pressure Of
the entente and the entry Of the United
States has completely changed the sit
uation. The question Is now. in fact.
not what are the war aims which
Germany viii impose before she grants
peace, but what terms She herself viii
be willing to accept.
Ihat IS the simple statement OF
the greatest fact in the war situation
today.
"The entry Of the United States into
the war and the hostile attitude of
many of the South American republics
has put economic matters into the fore.
ground. The German government must
obviously view with extreme apprehen-
sion the situation AT home in the months
Immediately succeeding the declaration
! oi peace. The physical exhaustion Of
the people and Of the country. combined
with the want OF food. which cannot be
/ Immediately remedIed and the want Of
raw material for starting manufactures
/ viii create a most serious sl.untlon
Revolutionary Movement Possible.
IT. when the troops come pack from
the front, il is not possible Immediately
TO start again the industrial life OF the
country and provide food and work.
there VIII almost inevitably be a serious
revolutionary movement.
This would be started By the minor.
ity socialists. aud II Germany comes
out OF the present war without a den.
mite increase Of strength and prestige
IN some form or another. the Influence
Of the government among. the middle
classes will be so much weakened thar
Il viii be impossible any longer 10 de.
pend on their active support against a
revolutionary movement. The Prus-
sian military and agrarian party re.
main as firm and uncompromislng. In
domestic as in foreign affairs. as ever.
and many Of the people would deprive
them OF the political power which they
/ regard as their right.
For this reason. that which the Ger
man government will most seek Cor i'm
any peace arrangement. is security
that, as soon as the war Is over. there
shall be free flow OF food asd raw
material into the country. and az the
same time free markets for German
products. II this could be secured. tho
energy of the people could be az once
directed to the restoration OF commerce
and industry and their interests so con.
eeatrated that they would be turned
away from dangerous political consider.
ations"