Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-06-08
PEACE WITHOUT ANNEXATION
THE RUSSIAN FORMULA

the future or to prophesy, let us con-
slider what may be the case six months
hence il the most likely thing happens.
suppose Germany does not win the war
by her submarines, suppose the allied
offensive does not reach the Rhine or
clear Belgium and all of France Sup
pose Russia and Austria stand facing
each other more or less quietly on the
Eastern front n Italian and Austrian
armies keep their present positions. Is
1T not likely then that Germany will
md herself compelled by internal pres
sure to accept the Russian proposal. to
advocate peace without annexation or
Indemnity and thus hope to divide her
enemies?
The Blood Tax of 1918.
Fo it is clear that if the submarines
do not win the war or demonstrate that
they can win it, before December,
Germany will have to face another year
OF war with American troops coming
up n American resources Joined to
those of the allies. She will have to
lace great actual and greater prospec-
1--WE superiority in numbers, guns and
munitions on the part Of her foes; she
Will nave to face a blood tax upon her
population. greater than any nation has
had to bear or will have to bear; for
as the British are taking a portion of
the burden off the French this year we
snail take our part next year.
To me 1t seems. very clear that next
december we shall nave a new situa-
ton. We shall haye Austria ready to
make peace with Russia on the basis
that l have indicated-no indemnities
and no annexations. We shall have
Turkey. and probably Bulgaria, in the
same state of mind. We shall have
Serbia exhausted and abandoned by
Russia. with little hope of realizing her
Old dreams. In a word, we shall have a
situation in which, by renouncing her
own ambitions, the Russians will have
removed all occasion for war between
themselves n three of the German
allies.
Will Germany Their run the risk of
losing her allies by insisting that they
stay In the war with her to their cost
and her possible profit? If she does the
allies may we'll welcome this situation
as insuring a break between Austria
and Germany and the escape of Tur-
key. and probably of Austria, from the
German domination. A truly indie
pendent Austria would be a gain for
the allies that would actually mean
winning the war. were nothing else at
tanned.
But it seems 10 me German policy
Will be quite different. By December.
II she has not won the war or laid her
hands upon the prize, il she is not able
to show her population inevitable in
stead OF prospective victory, it seems
to me that Germany will have to listen
to the proposals of Russia, Endorsed by
Austria. and to proclaim her own readi-
ness to accept peace without annexa-
ton. Moreover, il she does this, she
can. In turn. hope to profit by the dis
array this may cause among her foes.
Today Germany is embarrassed be-
cause she Is not prepared to accept the
Russian proposal; she still hopes for in
demntty and for annexation. She is
thu unable to meet Russia on the basis
that would lead Russia to makea sepa-
rate peace. h runs the risk of letting
Russia get back n the war, and she
is conscious of the growing determine.
ton of Austria to nave peace on a basis
that now sur her integrity and is
obtainable.
Tomorrow. when hope may nave
vanished, Germany, If she has, kept
Russia in play and not let Russian pub
lie opinion get into the war again, can
propose to accept the Russian proposal
n thus insure the support of her al
lies and not at all improbably bring
Russia to the point of making a sepa-
rate peace. This l firmly believe to be
the German program. For the summer
the Russian revolutionists are to be
kept in play: the German elements at
home who desire peace on Russian
terms. the Austrian and Turkish allies
are to be kept in h fight by the prom
Use of assured victory. by glowing ac-
counts Of h achievements OF the SUBJ
marine. But II all these hopes prove
vain. then Germany will, as winter
comes ana h campaigns end. boldly
proclaim the Russian proposal of peace
without annexation or indemnity; when
she does this the allies will have to
wrestle with the gravest crisis they
have yet had to face.
For there are certain Of the allied
purposes in this war that are funda-
mental. France is resolved to retake
that portion of her own territory torn
from her in 1870 and those populations
who are now German by force, not by
choice. Italy is resolved to liberate the
Italians of the Trentino and OF Trieste.
Great Britain's colonies, having re-
moved the deadly peril Of German COL
onies In Africa and in the Pacific, are
determined that these old perils shall
not be restored. Australia would leave
the empire rather than consent to q re-
turn 70 Germany Of the islands' once the
quered German West Africa, long q
headquarters Of plotting, will In no
case return the lands taken by Boer
and Brit0n alike.
We touch herr upon the basis Of flu
ture peril. Having renounced Constan-
tincple. having turned her back to her
9lav brethren in the Balkans and in
course ON the part OF France toward
the people Of the Pays Messin, and Of
Italy toward the Inhabitants Of the
Trenttno a Trieste dlstricts. II she
does. then Germany. having adopted
the Russia policy. p~erforre. may be able
20 negotiate = separate peace with Rus.
sia and thus break the alliance OF her
Ohvioua1v this In har secora