New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-13
The Entente Answer

90. They have frankly stated the objects
which they have in view in prosecuting
the war and the terms on which they are
willing to end it.
They feel that they are fighting in q
Just csuse-to repair wrongs done wa
tonly and in spirit Of brutal aggression.
They aim at imposing a peace which will
he stable and secure-at creating bal
ance Of power which viii give the nations
and races Of Europe freer chance Of de-
velopment and relieve them Of the press
ure Of that overweening ambition with
which German savants as well as German
military men have long been inoculating
the German people.
World power or downfall!" was the
gospel preached to Germany by It's
Treitschkes and its Bernhardis. That Cos
pei has been put to its logical test on the
battlefield. It's emptiness must be proved
TO those who have taught it and practised
it, if there are TO be safety and tranquil
lily in Europe for years to come. So the
Entente powers also aim at abolishing the
threat TO their peace and to the peace of
the world which has been inherent in the
Prussian system Of militarism.
These are objects worth fighting for to
the bitter end The Allies cannot consent
10 a peace which does not attain them
unless they are willing to write off their
countless sacrifices as futile. There could
be little compensation for them-little
hone for them Of an undisturbed future
if they should accept a mere truce based
On the war map of to-day.
Any reasonable give-and-take settlement
based on that map would represent sub
stantial victory for Germany. 1t would
greatly increase German power and pres
tige and would convince most Germans
that the war had been worth to Germany
all that il had cost--that il was another
long step forward toward that domination
of Europe and Asia which the German
people have been taught to look to as their
natural and certain destiny.
From a military point of view the pur-
roses Of the Entente Allies may seem to
be extremely difficult of accomplishment.
The Entente has not shown so far the con-
certed energy and military vigor necessary
to crush Germany in the field. But it is
right in deciding TO go on with the war
until the hope of developing such concert
Of effort and such military efficiency fades
away.
Having gone so far, the Entente powers
must 90 still further. They must put all
their resources into the war something
they have failed to do so far) before they
admit that nothing better than draw
with the Teutonic combination can be OBJ
tanned. They still have confidence; and,
having it, it would be an objectionable
display of weakness on their part to con-
sent to negotiate with Germany on the
basis Of military achievements TO data
basis which would exclude consideration Of
practically all the real objects and pur-
poses for which the Entente Allies are
fighting.
The Allies terms of peace are clean
cut and uncompromising. From purely
military point of view they may be re
garded as extreme. They are the terms
which Il victor would ask-or a military
combination already certain Of victory.
It is clear enough that Germany, wish
ing to make peace at this time in order to
consolidate her advantages, would consent
to evacuate Belgium and the occupied por-
tons Of France. She would also with
draw from Rumania, and possibly from
Serbia and Montenegro, were a free pas
sageway left open to her from Hungary
down into Bulgaria. She might consent 20
cessions TO Italy Of Austrian territory in
the Trentino and in the region of Trieste
Trieste being made a free port, but re-
manning under Austrian sovereignty. Be
fore Italy entered the war Prince Won
Bdlow, on behalf Of Germany and Aus
tria-Hungary, offered concessions of this
sort In order TO appease Italy and keep her
neutral. Germany might also be willing
10 give back Courland and the occupied
parts OF Lithuania and Volhynis TO Rus
STA and to compromise the Polish ques-
ton by agreeing 70 the creation Of Polish
kingdom not under German-Austrian con-
troll.
But the demands Of the Allies 20 far be
yond this. They require indemnities for Bel
GUM. Serbia and Montenegro in. addition
10 the reinstatement of the Belgian, Serbian
and Montenegrin governments. They ask
reparation for the damage done through
the occupation of Northern France and
Runania. They would compel a restitution
of all Russian territory now held by Ger
many, Poland included, with reparation
here also for war ravages They would
force Germany to give up Alsace-Lorraine
10 France, Austria TO give back all the
Trentiuo and all Trieste to Italy, Hun
gary 70 surrender Pennsylvania TO Ruma-
MIA and TO free the Czechs and the Slovaks,