The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-03
GERMAN PEACE MOVES.

German puDl1clStS or nlgh ana low
degree continue to make suggestions
looking to peace. There can be no
doubt that the Teutons are earnestly
DESTROYS of peace, but peace on their
own terms. Not at any time have any
specific terms been set forth. 1t
would suit the German purpose to OBJ
tain an opening of negotiations and so
stop the fighting. temporarily at
least. Germany is approaching the
end of her string.
We are without positive information
on Germany's peace terms. but all that
we do know points to the conclusion
that Germany means to keep all she
can hold. The German chancellor has
told us more than once that the terms
of peace will be settled according to
the war map, that is, that. gene rally
speaking, the military status quo is
to be maintained. He declared that
Belgium and Poland must be brought
under German control. Later, again,
he referred to this speech as still ex-
pressing his views.
Prince Won Buelow, ex-chancellor.
and one of the most important men
in Germany. in the new edition of his
book. Imperial Germany" revised
since the war began, repeatedly says
that Germany is entitled to guaran-
tees in the form of large additions of
territory, and he explicitly refuses to
hear of giving back Alsace-Lorl aine.
The different parties in the reichstag,
except the Socialists, are unanimous
in demanding large territorial annex
atoms. The '1ntellectuals'' and the
great groups representing commerce
and industry. in their published mani
festos, follow the same line. The lead
ing newspapers, again excepting those
of the Socialist group, are unanimous
in claiming the fruits of victory. In
short Germany. official and unoffi-
cial, shows no intention whatever of
making such concessions as would be
acceptable as long as the allies have
a regiment in the field or a dollar in
their pockets.
The refusal of the German govern
ment to state any terms in answe r to
President Wilson's request for in
formation shows that their terms are
not such as will bear publicity or
would be approved in the United
States To offer to negotiate Oh such
basis as this, when we have laid our
cards on the table, while Germany
keeps hers up her sleeve, would be to
play the game of negotiation under
fatal handicap. Besides. to negotiate
now would be direct incentive to
n
There can be no acceptable or per-
:nanent peace without a complete vic
tory for the arms of the countries
lighting autocracy. They alone must
dictate the terms. A compromise
would mean that Germany would be
left in a position to renew the strug-
gle whenever it suited her, to organ
ize her forces for victory even more
completely than before, to break up
the present alliance by buying out ore
or other member of it, to prepare
her fleets and armies for fresh and
greater effort. And she would do this
with the comforting assurance that
the forces of the four greatest states
of Europe, outside her own lsague,
had not only been unable to break her
resistance, but had been driven to
leave her in a more advantageous po-
sition than before; for, whatever con-
cessions she might make she would
undoubtedly retain some, probably a
large portion, of her gains, those,
ramely, which would contribute most
to her future strength, and be most
helpful in a further advance. The al
lance which she now dominates
would remain unbroken Austria
Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria would
leel that they had done right in siding
with Germany, and would be bound to
her more closely than ever.