New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-15
Berlin Determination to Keep
Alsace Checks All Talk Of Peace
Evcr Moderatcs Among Allies Now Declare Negotiations
on Such Basis Unfair to France Which Has Borne
Brunt of War and Deserves Reward
By Arthur S. Draper

LONDON. Oct. 14.-Just as the
weather has checked Haig's offensive
in Flanders. so has Kuehlmann put
spike in the peace push. His never
never" speech regarding Alsace-Lor-
raine, corresponding to the declaration
in 1870 of Theirs and Favre, mot
fortress. not rod of French soil shall
be ceded," has checked the peace move
ment just at tie moment when II
seemed to be gaining Roadway.
Kuehlmann evidently expected to
find encouragement in the Allied Mod
crate circles, but instead of winning
their support he has succeeded in driv-
ing them into the ranks Of those who
place no confidence in the possibility
Of peace through negotiation. SO long
as France is willing TO fight for her
provinces even the English Moderates
will stand firm.
"The Manchester Guardian" puts it
thus:
1--WE need not be more French than
the French themselves, but so long as
they, with all they have endured and
still have to endure, stand firm in their
purpose, we, who have much less to
endure, shall stand with them"
Moderates Change Views
Il. ~. Massingham, another Moder-
ate, says in the Nation:
cit is, OF course, true that without a
good, generous settlement Of the Al
sace-Lorraine question there can be no
permanent European peace. But neither
will il come the Allies failing IN the
destruction of Germany from purely
national and exclusive treatment OF IL.
THE Guardian" draws an interesting
comparison between Germany's action
after the annexation of the provinces
and Brtain's decision in South Africa,
where, after England saw its first
error, she placed the disposal OF South
Africa in the hands of the South AfrI-
cans themselves. Had Germany so
acted in the case of Alsace-Lorralne
there would from that day have been
different Europe and there would
have been no war" says The Guar
dian"
1t is well to consider the peace move
ment checked but not stopped. In the
carly future IL is likely to become a
theme Of discussion again. Certainly
the Liberal British press and states
men will continue to press for clear
definite statement from Germany on
this question.
British View of Mutiny
The natural tendency Of the Allies
TO consider everything said and done
By Germany as part of plot to TOOL
them was in danger of reaching point
where II might damage their own IN
terests, but events last week changed
conditions materially. The British
have come TO learn that the motto OF
the German ruling class is business
first" and they see in the announce
ment of the mutiny in the navy much
more than the disaffection OF GER
tain number Of sailors. They wonder
whether the Kaiser has had more 10
fear from the rebellous sailors than
from the Socialists whom Won Capelle
branded as traitors; they wonder
whether the Kaiser's candor was not
a pretty plain admission which he
deemed necessary TO halt Socialistic
activities: they wonder whether the
German autocracy has not begun 70
feel the pressure OF the enemy within
as well as the enemy without.
There is one good test. The German
armies are going back on the West
front: constantly, if slowly, yielding.
The German armies are giving no slim
illus 70 the German people.
Economically there is no improve
ment within the Central Powers. On
the contrary. conditions are growing
worse Financially the present is black
and the future blacker.
Economic Comparisons
Compare the military, economic and
financial conditions of Germany with