New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-20
Germany's Peace Terms
A Russian's Forecast Of the Proposals
Which Will Secure Victory
a Oh. Editor Of The Tribune,

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
CIR. The peace terms which Germany
would wish TO grant TO tho world, and which
the German junkers would have US think are
very liberal, apparently will run along the
following lines:
Ionorine the main issue Of President Will
sons answer 70 the peace proposals OF the
Pope, namely, no peace negotiations with The
pre,snt German government or It's support.
ers, Germany will again announce 70 US, a.
she did year ago, that, with one foot still
crushing Belgium and Northern France and
the other planted on the road 20 the capital
Of one Of her greatest foes, she VIII stop
short and give peace 70 the world. She will
evacuate Belgium and France She will
settle the question Of Alsace and Lorraine
b., Grating OF them an independent state.
Poland, Ltwinia, Finland, Little Russia
Ukrainya) also 20 be independent, as vel
as Bessarabia and Lvania. For the resti.u-
ton OF Northern France she will demand n.
return Of her colonies, and for Belgium GER.
tain concessions in the Balkans, the Vhols
question Of the Balkan States 10 be ssttl.d
at a peace conference Of the diplomats %
the bellgerent nations, around a table. 70
annexations, no indemnties. Then al viii
be lovely.
This IS the sunny side Of the peace terms
which Germany may offer lshe may no. b.
even 50 generourJ. and her paid agents ana
her unpaid dupes and the pscifs's every
where will join in the cry that Germany is
surrendering all her conques,s.
But let us look at the map ~ Europe -.
day and see the changes II has ur4erg7n.
since the beginning Of the war. Trace he
battle lines on west and east and We ses
how Germany and her allies hold square
block Of Europe. dominating the Baltic and
the North Sea, then down through Belgium
end France 10 Switzerland; down along tss
hdriatic. and with the exception Of 4 mar
row strip in Macedonia. through Greece for
Greece IL Germany's best ally); east Irto
the Turkish possessions, and by Persia up :,
the Black Sea; then up through Runs7is,
Russian Poland and Litwina, through ire
Courland, region 20 Riga.
This block has been the dream Of German
statesmen for the last half century. For ths
creation of a Mitteleurops Germany has
been getting ready for almost fifty years.
For this reason she has torn up that scrap
Of paper" the Belgian treaty. To accom-.
pish this dream she has brought disaster
and frightfulness 20 the whole world, inc'ud-
ing herself And after having attained her
goal she surely is not going 70 give II up
just because His Holiness requests IT, r. no
where else, then az Rheims, The Kaiser has
shown his real attitude toward Him whom
he claims as his partner, and there Is 70
reason 10 think that he would make such a
sacrifice 70 please His servant.
The truth is that for the last year Gel.
many has become increasingly exhausted.
and 70 hold her conquests she must have 4
truce for a while. Having destroyed every
thing that remains Of industry in Belgium
and Northern France. she can we'll afford -
throw back the empty shell and let them
build themselves up again, instead Of doing
il herself. When the time comes she will
take them back in better shape Who is
going 20 oppose her then, for her peace
terms mean that she will surround herself
with small independent states so that when
she is ready 10 finish up the Job Of Gomi-
mating the world she will not have 20 deal
at first with great powers She would prob
ably have no need 10 fight at all. She an
nexed Bavaria to the empire without war;
Austria was not obliged TO fight 70 annex
Bosnia. When these surrounding states are
drawn into the empire and their populations
drilled by Prussan schoolmssters and drill
sergeants, who is going 10 be able 10 rcsis.
her?
Knowing Germany's ultimate aims. i:
should be easy for us 10 see through her
trickery. For Germany does not want peace.
II is truce that she needs 70 prepare for
war. II IS up to us not 20 let ourselves be
fooled by her crafty statesmen, but, having
cornered the beast, 70 make our supreme and
last effort 10 cage it and rid the world ~
the menace which would destroy. II not QUIZ
selves, then our children.
s HALPERN.
New London. Conn, Sept. Il, 1917.