Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-19
GERMAN BREAK
WITH AMERICA
CAUSED STIR
Teuton Public, However,
Presents Solid front-many
Anxious For Peace.

Berne, Switzerland. Feb. ~. via
Paris (From stair correspondent Of
the Associated Press. .)-There is no
doubt in the minds Of Americans who
have come to Switzerland from Ger
many since the severance of diplo-
matte relations between Berlin and
Washington that the German public
today presents a solid front; Any dan
ger of serious internal disturbances
such as has been hinted at in publi-
cations outside Of Germany is regard
ed as being as remote as 1t was many
months ago. Nevertheless the state Of
public opinion has become q pressing
problem, especially during the last
few weeks.
From these Americans. some Of
whom have had exceptional oppor-
tunities to study internal conditions In
Germany. the following Information.
pressed views. has been obtained:
The attitude of the German people
became moro Of a problem when the
break with America occurred, not be-
cause any overwhelming majority was
opposed to the break, but beacuse It
followed so closely on the heels Of the
widespread peace talk, coming at a
time when the yearnings for cessa-
tion of hostilities had lately received
such enormous impetus.
There exists in Germany a cynical
though not disloyal minority which
frankly believes the peace offers was
not made in the expectation that
peace could be brought about, but for
the purpose Of heartening a large.
but only potentially dangerous stra-
tum of the population which is tired
of war. This section has been antag-
onized by the unsilencable and un-
1lah ~
which has clamored for the annexa-
ton Of everything thus far conquer
ed, or at least for very material in
creases in territory.
Although naturally unorganized
this stratum is very extensive. 1t has
taken the attitude that the war and
the causes threof are none of its af-
fair and that annexations would be
Of doubtful value. A majority of this
element Is Indifferent whether Bel
GUM is retained or returned. It longs
with increasing anxiety for peace.
The growing opinion that Germany
cannot hope to obtain all that Is de-
sired by the extremists and the pas
sionate desire to have 1t all over with
on any reasonable basis and to get the
members Of the families back home,
has brought into being in the last
few months a more or less powerful
peace party. The cynics argue that
the government, recognising the ex-
istence of this faction, decided on a
moderate peace offer which, II accept
ed, would please the peace advocates
even though not entirely placating the
pan-Germans: while II rejected, the
result would be the unincation Of the
people and obliteration Of tho chasm
between the peace faction and the
pan-German.
Whether the cynics were right OF
wrong in regard to the motives Of the
government. the peace move brought
about uniflcation to a degree probably
beyond the utmost hoped for.
An honorable and dignified peace is
what is desired. AS long as the en-
tente intends to impose terms regard
ed by the German people as equiva-
lent to destruction or dismember-
ment, they will resist unitedly but,
the American observers say, there
would be the threat Of serious rift
II an opportunity for q reasonable
peace should present itself and not be
accepted.