Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-30
Military Men Believe Ger
many viii Make Decision
In Near Future
WILL CONSIDER PEACE
ONLY If HOPE is GONE
If She Determines to Fight On
War Will Continue Until
Defeat S Certain

kOulIeu 1TeSS SIaII cOfreSpOnQenIJ
Washington, Aug. 30. = Peace this
winter or next spring as result of
President Wilson'S reply to the pope
or at least two more years of war-that
is the prospect ahead.
Military men and diplomats con-
structed that outlook today in the
peace situation. Insofar as the United
States is concerned, it is going ahead
with war preparations. 1t will not wav-
er until the German people have strip
ped the kaiser Of his present autocratie
powers.
ilitary men believe there is chance
OF peace in the presidents note. They
point out that Germany is showing ey-
licences of Cracking under the strain
and they believe the liberals will force
a reconstruction of the German gov
ernment. This must be bona fide state
department authorities said today, or
it will be futile.
1t will be up to Germany's leaders
to decide whether to fight on or to
accept peace now. The presidents note
is concrete evidence that the ambition
of her enemies is not to crush her.
Must Stir Liberals
President Wilson has declared
| d2dlllSb ulSlttuiDtiltGl1b VI ClnHllCo
against post bellum trade wars. In
these circumstances, the German peo-
pie for the first time can realize that
the war against her is not mercenary
or aggressive, but that it is one of al
truistic purpose. Hence, as many here
see it. the liberals Of Germany will
soon force off the yoke of kaiserism-
If, however, they content themselves
,,l.n, 40 tho d. -sVo-( Il 3ov
many plea that the war is now one of
defense insofar as Germany is con-
eerned, the struggle will go on.
Military men believe that Germany
will decide either to take the chance
of military defeat or will start real
peace negotiations now.
Should She decide, however, that
there is no peace chance now or that
her arms can ultimately triumph, then
she will fight on for year or two
more. By that time, America IS strength
will be felt in full force and Germanys 8
defeat will be an assured fact.
Playing With Argentine
Secretary of State Lansing did not
see today in Germany's concessions TO
-.tgentine anything particularly sig
nificant He pointed out that the Ger
man government made such promises
to America-only to break them later
Others, however, thought Germany saw
the handwriting on the wall and was
easing up on her U-boat contest so as
to get some moral and material sup
port from this hemisphere. That she IS
looking to trade after the war is con-
sidercd obvious.
Russia, despite her enormous strug-
gle to keep weakening forces in line,
Is heartened by the presidents note,
which, diplomats feel, makes Russia
and the United States virtual arblters
of peace. The answer, 1t is felt, may
crush the last traces of separate peace
talk IN Russia.
Allies Agree with Wilson
Meantime allied diplomats gave their
word that their nations agree with
President Wilson as to abandonment
of ideas Of a post bellum trade war
They said that if Germany s claws are
clipped such wars win be unnecessary
except in isolated instances. On the
whole, however, observers here saw IN
Wilson s expression a notice to Ger
many that she will get fair trade
deal after the war and a sign that Am"
erica and the allies realize blunder
was committed in notifying Germany
she would be commercially crushed no
matter how the war ended. A certain
suspicion must attach to German busl-
ness after the war, it is pointed OUT
but under the presidents ideas Ger
MANY can re-establish her trade If she
win remove from it the taint OF kals-