Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-30
Little Faith Placed Here in
Expressions of Berlin and
Vienna Officials.
viewed MERELY AS TRICK
OF TEUTONS TO END WAR
United Opinion Is U. S. Will Go on
and Not Permit Beaten Germany
to Dictate Terms.

trian minister Of foreign affairs, pub
lished this morning.
This was ascertained today at the
State Department and from other of
President Wilson's advisers, many of
whom hold to the belief that the inter
views, purporting to offer "peace by
understanding, without conquest" and
accusing the allies Of intending to prose
cute a war of conquest against the
Teutonic powers and their allies, are
merely another step to stir up peace
talk, following the Teutonic successes
on the Russian front, such as always
follows any Teutonic success.
Aimed to Start Peace Talk.
The view is held at the State Depart
ment that the two interviews publish
ed from Berlin and Vienna today, fol-
lowing SO closely the proposal said to
have been made by Matthias Erzberger,
one of the leaders of the German CEN
ter in the reichstag. cabled from Zurich,
that he could bring about a peace by
understanding" in a few hours talk
WIN the bTltIsn prime minister or the
British foreign secretary, were in
spired by the German government to
be published at coincident moment
solely for the purpose of creating
peace talk. in Russia particularly. as
we'll as in a lesser degree In the coun-
tries Of the allies and in-the United
States.
That there 10 not the slightest HkeE-
hood that the United States govern
ment will be obliged to enter upon any
discussion
at the State Department. Indeed.
while tho belief 10 held there that the
interviews were timed to appear ST.
IN s0fncial circles today that the ad-
dress Of Secretary Lansing to the Of
ncsrs Of the Reserve Corps at Madison
barracks. New York. will probably
have valuable effect in answering
mats, since Secretary Lansing's state
ments. while merely coincidenta1, are
necessarily regarded as q restatement
of the position Of the Washington gov
regarded as an answer to the state
ments Of the Teutonic diplomats.
Nothing New in Interviews.
In Washington official circles today 1t
was said that there is absolutely moth
ing new in the interviews from Berlin,
Vienna and Zurich warranting any at
tention from the government here. Tb>
term. Peace by understanding" is re-
garded as phrase Of the vaguest
character. and other statements in the
interviews. 1t Is said, afford suitable
opportunity for critical comment. There
10 not the slightest reason, it is point
ed out. why the Washington govern
ment should pay any attention to
to what happened at the recent secret
session of the French chamber OF dep
uties in Paris. The United States gov
ernment is already in complete posses
sion, IT is not doubted. of official in
formation on just what did happen at
that session.
This instance alone gives warrant
for the belief in Washington govern
merely intended to stir up peace talk
with the intention of creating a diver
sion. il possible. and making more diff
hcult the diplomatic negotiations of
the allies and of the United States with
the Russian government There is
danger. of course. that an unwarranted
optimism among pacifists in this coun-
try and in England may be caused by
the interviews: but it is believed in
Washington today that this optimism
will be short lived.
View at the Capitol.
The peace statements attracted at
tention at the Capitol. although SEN
ators and representatives were loath
TO talk freely on the subject for pub
lication. The central idea prevailing
in congressional circles seems to be
that while overtures for peace are at
all times acceptable they must be over
lures in fact and not clothed in terms
of seeming dictation.
The suggestion is not admitted that
Germany can lay down unoualified
terms of peace, as her military BOSTON
now and as threatened for the future
does not authorize her to do so. Ger
many. it Is contended. cannot now
speak in the voice and with the tone
of the conqueror to the vanouished
The opinion is probably unanimous In
Congress that no peace talk at this time
should cause the United States to abandon
rne aggressive military program unor
which this country is at present engaged
Shere should be diminution OF nre.
carecness Tor eventualities nor of imme-
date campaigning
There is strong undercurrent of sent,.
Aaent In Congress. expression of which i,
suppressed at the moment for obvior,
fhaons. that IN any final terms of peace
United States will not back up demands
OF her allies for acquisition of continental
German territory ruinous to that nation
neitner VIII these peoples consent to re.
tention by Germany Of land she has
wrested from Belgium and France.
Sees Acknowledgment of Defeat.
Chairman Flood Of the House commit.
tee on foreign affairs. who is qualified a.
a spokesman for the House on intern,
tionai questions. said today:
The remarks Of the German chanceI,o,
indicate what / have thought for .om,
time, that Germany is ready for peac,
and realizes that she cannot win tbi,
war as she set out to do.
They indicate. too that GERMANY 1,
now prepared to accept peace terms of .
more liberal character than ever befor,
contemplated by that nation and les,
rigorous than heretofore proposed in an,
suggested terms.
But Germany cannot now or at an,
time dictate terms of peace. She canno
\ win and none but the conqueror can la,
terms.
do not think the United States viii
relax Nks efforts In the war in any degre,
ass res6st Of the German chancellor
statement. We want to end the war ant
We viii have tO>Se r on with W !, our plans Il