The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-16
''PLOTTINC" PEACE.
Germany Using Socialists to
Inspire Enemy's Sentiment.
Party Suddenly Gains Favor
With German Govt.
BY ARTHUR f. MANN.

Copenhagen. April 16.-Germany is
secretly seeking to revive peace talk
in all beIIigerent countries. She asks
peace-stiI on her own terms-tho
doubtless somewhat amended. In
Decemb Der Germany asked peace and
was refused Now she is planning to
maneuver the allies into asking her
for peace.
The scheme as established by in
formation from high sources here to-
day is an ambitious one and world
wide in its scope
Positive confirmation of unofficial
overtures from Berlin to the United
States. as reported in United Press
dispatches last Thursday. was obtain
ed today The hint came even strong
er from Germany official sources that
the United States would do well to
send Colonel z. NJ House to The
Hague for conference with German
representatives.
Communicate With Russians.
The main intrigue, however, were
of German hopes to start move
ment for her enemies to ask Berlin
for peace. apparently being exert
ed thru German Socialists. Suddenly
Socialists in the Teutonic empire nave
become favored individuals Their
leaders are being assiduously culu-
waited by German officials The Ger
man censorship has been unpreced-
emily 1oosened to permit their COM
!
enemy countries as Russia Most of
all the drastic German rules prohib-
iting departure of her men from the
empire and of holding of communi-
-cation with enemy citizens, has been
formally raised to permit departure
of Philip Seheidemann and other So
comrades of enemy nations.
The Russian government may not be
falling in with Germany's intrigue. but
,s~aIi -
been communicating with German So
cialists and some Russian radicals
have left for conferences with Ger
mans.
Avoid Mention of Terms
Germany evidently is exerting ire
mendous pressure thru using her So
cialists for a separate peace with Rus
STA. That may be the main part or her
peace plotting. But the feelers en-
eountered today indicated this as only
a part of the German scheme to OBJ
tain a strategic position.
1t was noted in all the peace feel
ers'' Germany is carefully avoiding
any mention of terms.
In the meanwhile German newspa-
pers, in obviously inspired articles, are
reiteratirg the fact that Germany can
not make any important concessions
from the terms unofficially noised
about at the time of Won Bethmann-
HoIIweg's proffer in December.
The Danish foreign office today for
naI1y declared Danish Socialists were
not participating in the supposed So
cialist conferences.
/ Reveal Germany's Peace Move.
Petrograd, April 1.-THE German
manoet1vers for a separate peace with
Russia were revealed to- the soldiers
+ and civilians of Russia today by the
war office. Quoting information OBJ
tanned from an Austrian officer. the
official statement says. Chancellor
Won Bethmann-Hollweg has sent Ger
man Socialists to Stockholm to meet
Russian Socialists 60 negotiate sepa-
rate peace.
THE German social democrats"
says the war office. according to the
same Austrian officer. are working
soIidIy with the government. consid-
! erfng themselves Germans before ev-
erything else
The statement further draws atten-
ton to the fact that the news of the
recent capture by the Germans of the
munitions depot on the Stokhod river
was not published broadcast and that
the actual manifestations were omit
ted
Austria Moves for Peace.
Paris April IA semi-officiaI
statement has been issued at Vienna
declaring that Austria desires peace
with the Russian people and that
there is no real obstacle to this aim.
according to Zurich dispatch to the
Radio agency. The dispatch quotes a
statement issued by a semf-offfcial
press bureau at Vienna. in which it is