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

Arabia and the Greek sections oil Asia
Minor.
The terms Of the Allies, if acceded TO by
the Teutonic powers, would radically re-
make the map of Europe. They would
dismember Austria-Hungary and prac-
tically extinguish Turkey. They would
isolate Germany and end the dreams OF
empire which the Prussian militarists and
the Pan-Germanists have so fondly cher
ished. There is therefore in the Entente
note not the least suggestion of desire
to meet the German proffer of peace
based on the present military map Of Eu-
rope with anything but contempt and de-
fance.
So long as the Entente governments and
peoples remain in their present frame OF
mind there can be no thought Of the sort
OF peace. which Germany contemplated
when she made her recent peace offer. The
war must go on until the present Entente
mood Of heroic confidence changes to one
of war weariness-of depression over mill
tary difficulties which seem to make the
realization Of all the Entente's farreach-
ing aims impossible.
Svmpathizing, as we do, with the gen
eral purposes Of the Entente-belleylng
its cause to be just and its battle TO be
battle for civilization-we cannot but APP
plaud the high spirit and uncompromising
directness of its refusal TO enter at this
time on peace negotiations from which
Germany would be the one power most
sure to profit.
MANY Americans are deeply impressed
with the waste and sacrifice of the war.
They think it species of madness and
would be glad to see the slaughter ended
on any terms. But the Entente peoples,
who are closer to the suffering and horror
of the war than we are, see more clearly
into the heart Of the war problem than
we do. They know what the war means
N them and how much depends on its out
come. They are fighting not alone for
their own safety, but for the safety OF
their children and grandchildren. They
feel that a new and better world order is
to be built upon their sufferings and sac
rifces.
They may be over-sanguine as to their
ability to crush Germany sufficiently TO
secure all the guarantees for the future
which they have in view. But they are
entitled to their try. They are entitled to
the respect and good will Of neutrals
in their uphill fight; for we neutrals, too
have stake in the SCATTERING of the Ger
man dream Of world conquest and the
German ideal Of militaristic aggrandlze-
ment.
With the best Of intentions, but with
faulty judgment, President Wilson APP
pealed to the two sets Of belligerents to
seek an accommodation Of their differ
ences at time when such an adjustment
could not but be greatly to the advantage
Of one group and greatly to the disad-
vantage Of the other group. He may have
thought that the Entente Allies were
losing faith and hope. If he did, he was
wrong. and the answer they have sent him
must thoroughly disabuse the minds OF all
neutrals on that point.
There are passages in the note which
have a distinctly ironical flavor. The En-
tente powers absolve the President Of any
intention Of associating his appeal with
Won Bethmann- Hollwegs peace offer. They
absolve him also from any intention OF
establishing a similarity of aims and OBJ
iects on the part of the two warning
groups. But one does not have TO read be-
tween the lines Of the note to recognize
that the Presidents peace appeal was dis
patched-so far as the Entente nations are
Iconcerned-at a very inopportune and In
felicitous moment.
The time for peace in Europe has not yet
come. 1t cannot come until the Entente
Allies have made their final effort TO alter
the military situation. They will not quit
now on Germany's terms. Nor will Ger
many quit on their terms. Nothing in the
wav of an agreement will be possible until
one side establishes a manifest superiority
or both sides agree to strike a truce
through mere exhaustion.
Efforts on the part Of the United States
to force a premature settlement should
cease. They can have no value under ex-
isting circumstances. Peace must wait
until the combatants really want peace and
do not greatly care what price they pay
for it. That is the one conclusion which
the American people will draw-and which
our government should draw-from the
Entente's answer.
The Coming U-Boat Campaign