New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02
Prince LeopOld's Offer


sian army is dated June 8, and is
translated in the "Retch" of June Q.
Il refers first to a visit which three
German officers had paid to the Rus
sian General Draeomirov at Dvinsk in
May, and continues:
"The German commander in chief
in letter to General Dragomirov sug-
gested that the two sides should send
accredited representatives., since Of
fcers from the trenches could not act
as responsible negotiators. The Ger
man and Austrian proposals had al
ready ben outlined. The officers were
authorized TO suggest how the military
operations between ourselves and Rus
STA could be terminated without Rus
sia's secession from her allies.
"Neertheless, the representatives
of the Russian army found it more
convenient not 10 respond to our pro-
posal. II is true that General Drago-
mirov signed a receipt for the letter,
but no reply crsUed. If that important
letter had been duly considered, it
could have become the first significant
step toward the attainment Of peace,
but 70 this day neither the Russian
army nor the Russian people have
learned anything about the letter.
Yet they ought to know that Germany.
in agreement with her allies, had, in
the presence of the commander in chief
on the Eastern front, expressed her
readiness TO meet the wishes repeated
ly uttered by the Russian Soldiers Del
egatcs 70 stop the bloodshed. That
readiness still exists. and is proved
by the fast that since Easter the ar
mics of the Central Powers on the
Eastern front have almost completely
suspe~ded all hostile actions. The
communication contained in the Of
ficial Russian reports about offensive
operations on our part, accompanied by
the emission of gases. does not CORE
spond to facts.
The Central Powers agree TO the
conclusion Of peace honorable to botn
parties on terms the details OF which
will have 20 he cons ldered By special
agreement pcace that would restore
the former friendly relations and al
ford Russia economic assistance IN the
interests of all the nations concerned.
This is the great object which the com
mander in chief on the Eastern front
wanted to indicate in his letter TO Cen
oral pragonlirov. The same object was
intended b. the suggestion Of an arm s
tice which had been transmitted by the
allied Central European powers on May
10 to the III and oh Armies AZ the
front. We lOgdlv r'peat. let Russia
send her accredited representatives.
II she desires TO know the details
of our terms. let Russia refuse the de-
rands to publish hose terms 50 long
as she regards herself bound by the
secret treaties concluded by her for
mer covernment-trea which have
for their object the destruction OF Ger
MANY and of her allies. and so long as
she is fighting herself and England,
France and Italy are acting on the OF
fensive for the attainment OF their oo-
iects Of conquest.
These states are still bent upon de-
nriving Germany Of her colonies and
Alsace- Lorraine; Austria Hungary of
the important port Of Trieste, with the
adjacent hinterland; the Turks, Of Con-
stantinople; while the partition OF ASIA
Minor is being negotiated between the
three powers mentioned. In ADDITION
these powers reckon upon the payment
OF an immense indemnity by the Cen
trial European states.
such are the objects for which Rus
STA. in the opinion Of her allies ought
TO fight and shed her blood, ana TOT
which on the other front the struggle
continues, eXactlng every day an ehor-
nous number of lives. II the
allied Central European powers should
have TO continue the war and TO pear
further heavy military expenditure, the
military objects Will, OF course. also IN
evitably become larger.
e. Signed THE COMMANDER IN
CHIEF OF THE EASTERN FROM.
The Russian Refusal
To this the Council Of Workmen and
Soldiers Delegates, on the suggestion
Of its executive committee, decided 10
reply as follows:
The German commander IN chief OF
the Eastern front has addressed a pre-
vocative appeal 10 our troops. What
does the general Of the German Empire
propose TO the revolutionary armies CT
free Russia? He pretends TO offer 10
our troops what they are thirsting FOR
and seeking amely, the road 10 An
honorable peace. He speaks thus be-
cause he knows that Russian democ-
racy will accept no other peace but an
honorable one.
AN honorable peace to US is a peace
without anneyations and indemnities,
but what the general Of the German
Empire understands by the term hon
orabe peace is eloquently indicated
nv his silence The German command
er in chief says that he would indicate
to our armies a method Of stoppu,
military operations that would involve