New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
The End of the German Crisis

Reading the utterances OF the ne" "ei
man Chancellor one is bound to recognize
that much progress has been made since
the time when Bethmann-Hollweg invited
the world to contemplate the war map OF
F,rone If there are in the new Chancei-
lor's statements a ring Of defiance ana d
note of confidence, these are to be expected
in the speech of any Chancellor of nation
at war.
ONLY the unduly optimistic will see the
rromise of immediate German yielding IN
what has taken place in recent weeks
Germany is not yet prepared to MAKE
o. which confesses defeat, sacrihces
territory, yields an naturalization to
po,o;an sufferers from German aggres-
s;or Unless the Allies are prepared TO
nols 8 white peace there is nothing In
the German declarations to date tha'
would suggest that the end of the strug-
Gle is in sight.
In noint of fact, there is nothing now
for the enemies of Germany to 90 Dut
return to the fight and continue the strug-
gle. Weakness now would mean the sacri-
fee of all for which they have fought
But. on the other hand, the German
crisis has resulted in not little ciarin-
cation. There has been at least more than
= hint from German officials that the
grandiose dreams of two and three years
ago are passing, and we have here the
clear and unmistakable declaration OF
two 10 one majority in the Reichstag IN
favor of a peace without annexations'
This is progress, even though it be easy
to exaggerate the extent OF the progress
and to forecast too readily the coming OF
peace.
That Germany is prepared to make
neace now without annexation or in
demnity may or may not be true, but
there are indications that Germany is
nearer to this point now than at any other
roment during the war. There are signs
that we may yet have clearer and more
unmistakable indication of this readiness
before the summer is over.
Yet it may be many months, it may be
more than another year, granted that the
military situation undergoes no great
change, before economic pressure, FOOD
conditions. attrition, will bring the Ger
man people to the point Of making the
sacrifices which the Allies demand must
be made. There is no sign as yet that the
German people recognize any necessity
for making any concession beyond that
comprehended in the formula of no an
nexation and no indemnity. We shall make
a mistake if we imagine that the German
people concede themselves to be beaten
now. We should do well to remember that
in the case of the South, when the end was
in sight, there was still no general popular
realization that the cause was lost.
The German crisis will Enthusiastically be
followed by peace man9uvres on the part
of Austria. We are Enthusiastically in for a
long series Of gestures, and it may be that
the door will never again be quite closed
Yet it might be just as well recognized now
as at any other time that the programme
which the Allies have in mind-a pro.
gramme which carries with it indemnifica.
ton of Belgium and the restoration OF
Alsace-L Lorraine: which carries with it an
exacting from Germany of the recognition
Of defeat--may not be realized until there
has been a military decision now lacking
With their military lines in the position
that Germany's are now in, great peoples
90 not consent 10 surrender their territory
or 10 pay indemnitles to the nations they
sre fighting for the destruction they have
wrought.
Germany does not feel herself conquered
Allied military progress has not yet beer
sufficiently great to demonstrate a superi
ority which means an inevitable victory
With Russia what she is, there Is little rea
hope that we shall have such demonstra
ton this year. II II Is to come it mus
come soon and ii must be far more com
plete than anything we have seen sine,
the Marne. II must mean the exertion OF
such force as will compel the Germans &c
20 back out Of France and out Of Western