The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-10
But Knows in Advance Allies
Won't Accept 1t.
To Serve as Step for More Con-
ceSsiOns Later.
WILL OFFER STATUS QUO ANTE
Economic Crisis Brings Ex-
hauStiOn of Germany Near.
Emperor Guarding Crown
Against Popular Revolution.

London, Sept. 1O.-Thruout official
London the belief is held that a very
definite peace offer will come from
Germany before winter and that the
offer will suggest immediate cessation
O. hostilities as a status quo basis.
Entente statesmen have fully indi-
Gated that they will refuse such terms
and no doubt Germany is aware of
this. But German leaders argued a
status quo offer from the German side
as an indispensable step in the prepa-
ration of German public opinion for
further concessions. A high official
authority gave the Associated Press
today the following statement of the
situation in Germany as regards peace:
There is no doubt that the German
government is anxious to get out of
the war at the earliest possible mo-
ment on any terms which will insure
them against rev. luton at home and
national collapse.
Would Call War a Draw.
Great numbers of people in Ger
many would welcome a peace on a
status quo basis, by this meaning prac-
tically a draw in which no belligerent
would occupy any rritory 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 it is i'm
possible to say how far this view has
spread among the German proletariat,
because naturally where it exists it
has had small opportunity of public
expression.
''It is obvious that if Jne German
people ultimately come % accept a
net loss of territory as inevitable they
must pass to that frame of mind thru
the intermediate stage of willingness
to accept a status quo peace. If the
war continues to go against Germany,
test offers to conclude such a peace
will certainly be made as soon as the
pressure reaches a certain: point.
s"Since Germany's so-called peace Of
fer a year ago. the continued pressure
of the entente and the entry of the
United States has completely changed
the situation. The question is now in
fact not what are the war aims which
Germany will impose before she grants
peace, but what terms she herself
will be willing to accept.
THAT is the simple statement of
the greatest fact in the war situation
today
Economic Phase Grows.
"The entry of the United States and
many of the South American repub-
lies has put economic matters into the
foreground. The German government
must obviously view with extreme ap-
prehension the situation at home in
the declaration of peace. The physi-
cal exhaustion of the people and of
the country combined with the want
Of food which cannot be Immediately
remedied, and the want of raw ma
terial for starting manufactures will
create most serious situation. When
the troops come back from the front
II is not possible Immediately to start
again the industrial life Of the coun-
try and provide food and work, there
will almost inevitably be n serious
evolutionary movement.
This would be started by the mi
nority Socialists and If Germany
comes out of the war without a def
mite increase of strength and prestige
in some form or another, the influ-
ence of the government with the mid
die classes will be so much weakened
that it will be impossible any longer
to depend on their active support
against a revolutionary movement
The Prussian military and agrariar
party remains as firm and uncompro-
missing, in the domestic and foreign
affairs as ever, and many person:
would deprive them of the politica
power which they regard as theil
right.
Commerce Big Problem.
For this reason, that which tn,
German government will most seel