The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22


It is almost exactly q year ago
that the German kaiser suddenly
proposed peace by negotiation. Now
there are ever multiplying umors
that a second German proposal is to
be made, and both London and Paris
seem convinced that the new year
will be marked by one more drama
tic imperial gesture like those which
before the war alternately filled
Europe with alarm and with laugh
ter.
The circumstances of a new peace
proposal would not be greatly diff
ferent from those Of last year. 1t
would be made, and this is the es-
sential detail, after great Ger
man success on the battlefield, and
III would be made by q militaristic
Germany, proclaiming its triumph
and intending to retain its hold up
on German political life on the
strength OF its achievement in a war
Of conquest.
In a sense, the outward appearance
of things is today more favorable to
the Germans than a year ago. AL
though Rumania had been beaten
by Russian treachery, as 1t subse-
quently turned out, but, as 1t then
seemed, by q dramatic and brilliant
basis for believing that Russia would
collapse and make a separate peace.
In point of fact, Of course, Russia
the reactionary cabinet which con-
trolled it-had already taken the
first steps to betray the allies and
the country to the enemy.
Yet on the face Of things the al
lance against Germany still stood
firm, while today it is plainly broken
and Russia is seeking q separate
peace. And, If one can Judge by all
signs, Russia is definitely removed
from the battle lines Of the allies
and all chance OF her return has
vanished. 1t il important to grasp
this fact, because much harm will
result IL the people of the allied
countries continue to look now in
hope, now In fear, toward nation
from which only tidings unfavorable
to them can come. 1t is the part or
wisdom to face the truth, however
unpleasant and the truth is, Russia
has quit.
On the other hand, IL Russia is
now seen TO have gone, as she had
gone actually IL not visibly year
ago the United States has taken her
place and is bound. by this time next
year, to have filled 1t. Thus in fact
a better posture than a year ago,
because it has dehnitively lost q
disloyal ally only to gain a greater
ally. whose eventual aid will far
surpass all possible Russian contri-
button and whose loyalty and good
faith cannot be doubted.
But with q superficial improve
ment in German conditions, with one
great foe out and a new enemy not
yet ready, with an Italian success to
give color TO the claim Of invincibil-
ity for Prussian arms, Germany is
now to propose new peace terms.
Why2 Simply because, whatever the
present situation, there is no
thoughtful German who can mistake
the fact that the further protraction
OF the war will be q German disaS-
ter OF incalculable dimensions, even
IL the Germans succeed in holding
their present lines for another year,
or even retaixing in the enst some
OF the Turks lost territory.
Germany's situation IS compli-
Gated by the fact that what Ger
many has won Ia tangible, what she
has lost is imponderable; what she
has temporarily conquered Is writ
ten on the man, what she has per-
manently lost Is not to be marked
on the man, In the main, nor is it to
be measured at all until the war
comes to an end. Yet the loss is
ataggring. An industrial nation,
with little accumulated capital, de-
pending upon her neighbors and her
present enemies for her raw mater
falls to feed her factories and upon
these some countries for markets in
which TO sell her manufactures. Ger
many has in three years and half
exhausted ell OF her capital; she is
bankrupt, and when the war ends
she must come to her present foes
TO purchase her raw materials, for
which she cannot pay in money; and
In addition she must seek thereafter