Arizona republican., 1917-08-21
XVIII.
First Authentic Annpuncement of Ger many's Peace Terms Before Americas Break With
 Central Domere


 From the time when Chancellor von 8ethmann Hollweg first spoke of peace had asked him and others what the peace terms of Germany were. l could never get any one to state any definite terms of peace. On several occasions, when I asked the chancellor whether Germany were willing to withdraw from Belgium, he always said, Yes, but with guarantees
 Finally in January, 1917. when he was again talking of peace l said: What are these peace terms to which you refer continually? Will you allow me to ask few questions as to the specific terms of peace?
 First Are the Germans willing to withdraw from Belgium"
 The chancellor answered, Yes, but with guarantees"
 I said, What are these guarantees D.
 He replied: We must, possibly, have the forts of Liege and Namur We must have other forts and garrisons throughout Belgium. We must have possession of the railroad lines We must have possession of the ports and other means of communication. The Belgians will not be allowed to main tain an army, but we must be allowed to retain large army in Belgium We must have the commercial control of Belgium.
 I said, T do not see that you have left much for the Belgians, excepting l that King Albert will have the right to reside in Brussels with an honor guard"
 And the chancellor answered, We cannot allow Belgium to be an outpost If England (Vorwerk). T do not suppose the English, on the other hand, wish it to become an out | post of Germany" 1 returned; "espec- tally as Von Tirpitz has said that the coast of Flanders should be retained in order to make war on England and America" I then asked, How about | northern FTance?" We are willing to leave northern 1 France the chancellor responded, but there must be a rectification of ] the frontier"
 How about the eastern front?" I asked.
 We must have a very substantial rectification of our frontier How about Rumania? ?" We shall leave Bulgaria to deal with Rumania.'
 | How about Serbian "A very small Serbia may be allowed to exist but that is a question for Aus F I'm t.tp c4 ha. lAff tA q xrrl1sl ' she wishes to Italy, and we must have indemnities from all countries, and all our ships and colonies back Of course, "rectification of the from tier' is polite term for "afnexation. " President Wilson's January Address to the Senate On January 22, 1917, our president | addressed the American senate, and in | his address he referred to his note of December IS sent to all belligerent governments He stated, referring to l the reply of the entente powers to his peace note of December IS, We are that much nearer to the definite dis | cussion of the peace which shall end | the present war"
 
 | answers ieceived from the belligerents l to his peace note of December IS, the president said
 | The central powers unite in reply which stated merely that | they were ready to meet their an- | tagonists in conference to discuss
 terms of peace. The entente pow
 CTS have replied much more defin- | 1tely, and have stated in general | terms, indeed, but with sufficient
 definiteness to imply details, the arrangements, guarantees and acts
 of arbitration which they deem to be indispensable conditions of a
 satisfactory settlement. We are
 that much nearer a definite dis
 cussion of the peace which shall l end the present war
 The president further referred to a world concert to guarantee peace ir the future, and he said:
 The present war must first be
 ended. We owe it to candor and
 to just regard for the opinion of
 mankind to say that, so far as our
 participation with guarantees of
 future peace, it makes a great deal
 of difference in what way and upon what terms it is ended.