New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-26
Peace by April Is Now
Hope of Many in Europe


| prepare for reconstruction with hardIy
less effort than they prepared Tor war
Had Expected Peace by Christmas
Germany and her allies expected that
next Christmas would be ushered IN
with peace bells. and made their plans
accordingly. Just as Germany made
war. she is doing her best to make
peace. and she has proved a clever
noker plaver. She has got the most
chips and wants TO draw out, but she
! still refuses to call on the last hand
she intends TO play.
This is given merely as the view oil
n close student of the war who has
/ exceptional facilities for studying the
! various phases.
i There is a whole lot more Boloism
/ than basis to the tactics which spread
German peace propaganda, financed
nacifst newspapers and organizations,
/ stirring up discomfort and when foster
discussions.
Germany has called in its big league,
nIayers. diplomats like Won BueIow ana
I Bethmann- Hollweg, bankers, manufac'.
urers and the most doclle Isaders OF
the Liberals, Junkers, Catholics ara
Iutherans. At the moment there IS
split in Germany on the questioh
whether Kuehln.ann or Won Buelow Is
to succeed Michaelis. Both OF them
are peace men, the former having the
support of she Liberals and SociailstS'
while Buelow, who is regarded with
0istrust by the Socialists, has won
over Erzbefger, the leader of the Cath
olics. who was formerly bitter enemy.
Cause of Latest French Crisis
l. is said that Won Buelow is the
man who made the peace gesture to
France and Italy which Is indirectly
responsible for the latest French po-
litical crisis. The story OF this affair
is that the French Socialists became
embittered with Ribot since he de-
clined 20 issue Stockholm passports
and since they learned OF Won Buelow's
offer and Rbot's declination on the
ground that it was peace trap. Inc
Socialists then forced Painleve to drop
Ribot.
That the terms Of the offer are far
different from Ruehlmann's Never
never" regarding the future OF Al
sacc-Lorraine is evident from the fact
that the Socialists had majority OF
the country behind them on this issue.
Compared with all former offers the
latest suggestion of the enemy, to
Italy, reflects a marked change. The
activities Of the Socialists there are
not due entirely 10 discomfort with eco
nomic conditions at large, but to the
fact that they have learned the terms
Of the offer.
Though the German game calls for
considerable concessions in regard to
Belgium, Alsace-Lorraine, Trentino
and Trieste, they are made only the
price of compromising concessions from
Russia.
The Germans are showing the great
est energy IN creating a satisfactory
peace atmosphere in that country.
There it is possible for them TO nego-
tiate openly. 1t is noticeable that in
the last fortnight the power Of the
Russian extremists has been waning,
but what has really happened is that
the government has convinced the peo-
pie it stands for "the defence of the
country" speedy improvement in eco
monte conditions and an early general
peace.
Whereas there is a slight improve
ment in the civil population. however,
no change for the better is apparent
in the army, according to General
Alexicf, who certainly cannot be
classed as pessimist. The Germans
long since abandoned hope of a sep
arate peace with Russia, and are now
working in the hope that Russia will
exert pressure on her allies to come to
terms.
In England there has been a lot Of
talk recently about the politicians
strategy and military leadership. The
government has even considered 1t
necessary to deny that there has been
any interference ION the part of the
Prime Minister or any civilian mem
Der of the government with the tacti-
cal plans of the high military COM
mand."
This raises a point discussed in
these dispatches fortnight back, as
to whether the British statesmen are
following the military lead or giving
it. 1t will be noted that in the official
statement the word used is tactical
plans" which means that Lloyd George
does not tell Haig how fast to go in
Flanders, though he has the power TO
start or stop the campaign in France
or anywhere else his judgment Of the
general situation may dictate.
In all his recent speeches the Pre-
mier emphasizes the Importance of the
assistance America is going to give
next year, and in each speech he has
come more in line with the policy laid
down by President Wilson.
at isn't question of territorial re-
adjustment, except in so far as that is
necessary for the recognition of ma
tienal rights" he said Monday. His
friends say he makes the same dis
tinction between the German people
| and the Potsdam militarists as does
| the President.
Though burdened with a monumental
| load of worries, such as Ireland, labor
/ unrest, political wire-pullers. air prob
lens, heavy casualty lists. financial
OUTLAWS and economic disturbances.
Lloyd Georges energy and vision seem
unimpaired. He is looking far ahead
and he is not banking wholly on the
ability of Allied arms to win a salts
factory peace. The coming Allied con-
ference should settle a lot of doubtful