Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-06
sAVING THEIE FAcEs.


refusal, They are hungry for peace,
but they must save their faces. Evi-
IDENTIFY the Allied statesmen undcr-
estimate the intelligence OF the
American public. 1t is impossible
for them to overestimate the ignor-
ance prevailing in their own coun-
tries wherever the German wireless
has failed TO shatter the wall Of de-
ception carefully reared by Allied
leaders to shut out the truth. Per-
haps we should be merciful with
these men, because their feverish
brains are compelled to concoct ever
new mendacities under the impend-
ing shadow Of tho guillotine. Four
Of the Ten Allies, Belgium, Monte
negro, Serbia and Roumania, no
longer exist as nations. or the re-
naming six, Japan is the only one
that is not threatened with famine
and revolution. If the breath OF
truth upsets their cardboard houses,
the gallows tree will loom ominously
for the statesmen whose power is
based on falsehood. who can only
maintain themselves by piling lie on
lie in the frantic endeavor to escape
their doom, not at the hands Of the
enemy, but at the hands of the ma
tiOns they have misled and betrayed.
If tho Allied reply had been made
two years ago, the American people.
might have religiously swallowed
their high-sounding phrases. Today
it appeals primarily to our sense of
'humor. Italy, Montenegro, Serbia,
Roumania and Russia (not to speak
ar England) as defenders Of liberty
must arouse the risibles OF the
iudicious. The play on Belgian
neutrality" must seem preposter-
GUS to every one who has read the
Brussels documents revealing the
secret military engagements existing
between Belgium and the Allies.
Ono is astohishcd that the Allies
have the effrontery to refer to Bel
gium at all in this connection. HOVE
ever, their principle is sound from
the point Of view Of psychology. A
lie, repeated often enough and en-
phatically enough, is certain to hyp-
notize persons of inferior mentality.
In the end 1t conyinces even the liar
himself Of the truth Of his statement.
The scrap Of paper" and the other
stage properties OF the Allied propa-
ganda appear in their answer, in
spite OF the fact that Bethmann-
Hollwog never used the expression
.iu question The entire accusation
is based upon the unsupported cy-
idcnce OF n British Ambassador. In
view Of recent experiences with Brit
ish Ambassadors as assassins Of
character and paymasters OF assas-
sins, we would not be willing to
nm trf1 n
document quotes the Chanccllor's
early declaration that the invasion
Of Belgium was CONTRARY to inter
events have shown, the Chancellor
was mistaken. Tho discovery or
Dolgium's secret plots, long suspect
ed, but never proved, entirely justi-
fed the German invasion. IT n police
man arrests an individual whom he
suspects OF murder without warrant,
ho commits a technical wrong. II the
man is innocent, the officer is repri-
nandcd. If his suspicion is justified
he deserves a reward. His technical
ofiense is condoned by the law. This
Is Germany's position with regard to
the invasion Of Belgium.
"Once again the Allies declare, "
runs one passage that for self-satirc
is unmatched In the works Of Mark
Twain, that no peace is possible as
long as they have not secured re-
paration for violated rights and liber-
ties, the recognition of the principle
OF nationalities and Of free existence
OF small states" We wonder with
what sort Of expression the King OF
Ga eecc win read this solemn clap
tap? We can easily picture the sar-
castle smile on the face OF the Sultan
as he ponders this statement in view
OF the fact that the Allies demand
openly Constantinople for Russia,
although it has been in Turkish pos
session for more than four hundred
years Think OF it. these 'nrotec-
| tors" Of small nationalities desire To
wrest a country from the Comman-
I der OF the Faithful over which the
Crescent waved before Columbus dis
covered the New World. If the Sui
tan has no claim to Constantinople
! what claim have we to America
| with what feelings viii the relatives
az the murdered Irish martyrs read
hngland's declaration in favor oi
small nationalities? How will it be
hailed in Egypt and by the twenty
cdd nations OF India? What win the
impression be in Finland and Po
land? Truly, IL the humor Of the
Allies is unconscious, they must bt
exceedingly thick-skinned.
In spite Of the evidence OF tht
map, in spite OF the evidence of thu
Q0S,000 tons OF merchant shippinl
destroyed by German submarines las
month, the Allies attempts to denl
the German victory, although in one
or two phrases they admit indirectl,
tnat a peace concluded now would b'
to the advantage of the "aggressors.
| Lest the term aggrcssors" be mis-
understood, let US state clearly tina
it is intended to apply to tho Contra
| Powers The claim might seen
| justified to tho superficial student 0
contemporary history, il the war hat
begun in 1914. AS a matter of fac
it began with King Edwards Grim
inal conspiracy against German,
openly avowcd at the time as an at
tempt to cncirclc the land Of hi
\ fathers with enemies on every front
4 No one who has read Morcl's bool
or Secret Diplomacy let Il
remember that Morcl lis an English