Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-05
Germany's impossible Peace

If Germany'S terms Of peace are those I'M
1 puted TO her by the Frankfurter Zeitung
and printed in The Times Dispatch yesterday.
peace at this time is not only impossible.
from the viewpoint OF the allies. but highly
undesirable, from the viewpoint of the ncu-
trial world. In essence, these terms would
realize the German dream of an empire and
its dependencies stretching across the back
bone Of Europe from the Baltic to the
Adriatic and across the Bosporus and the
Dardanelles TO the Persian Gulf. From such
vantage ground. control OF the Medter-
ranean and OF the Black Sea as we'll would be
only step.
TO attain an advantage SO tremendous both
in essence and III possibility. Germany might
we'll prove willing TO surrender Belgium, Ser
bia and Roumania. TO withdraw from the oc-
cupied provinces of France and even to pay
an indemnity for some of the ruin she has
wrought.
According TO the Frankfurter Zeitung, Ger
many will insist that Russia abandon her am
bition TO possess Constantinople and to dom
mate the Balkans; Polish Prussia and Galica
must be left undsturbed Alsace-Lorrane
must remain part of the German empire:
Great Britain must agree 10 the freedom OF
the seas-whatever that means: the allies
Lust give up all thought of extending their
boundaries. while the borders OF Germany
and her allies, particularly in the east and
southeast. must be revised, and the revision
must be guaranteed
This sort OF peace as we have said is
impossible. Before it can be realized Brit
ain, France and Russia will pour out their
last ounce Of treasure and their last drop OF
blood. for realization would mean German
hegemony over all Europe and the dwindling
of every other European nation to the posi-
ton of second or third-rate power Since
the Marine, when the legions of France halted
the advance OH Paris, and the defeat of the
later attpmDt to each the cha nupl
many has turned her eyes from the west to
the cast. The peace she is reputed to intend
proposing would establish her in a position
she never would be able TO win by force OF
arms.
On the other hand. neutrals probably will
not be particularly sympathetic with Russia's
parpose 10 own Constantinople. for Russia
dominating Southeastern Europe. in un-
challenged control of the Black Sea and its
'ittoral. with an outlet on the Mediterranean
and the gates OF Asia firmly held might well
he a great menace TO the peace of the
world as that mid European empire OF which
the Germans dream.
II neutral wishes could fix the resul nj
This war. believe the Turks would he
driven from Europe, and Constantinople the
Bosporus and the Dardanelles International
lied, with Russia guaranteed free and un-
interrupted access TO the Mediterranean
We believe also that Poland would be re-
created, and that the German and Austrian
as well as The Russian. portions Of the old
kingdom would he included in its dominions
Belgium. victim or history's cruclest wrong
would be restored and rehabiliated. and AL
SAGE and Lorraine go back To France Aus
tria-Hunsary. if permanent peace and not re-
venGe is the end sought, should no, be de-
prived of her access to the Adriatc, although
Trieste. which is Italian and Fiumc which
is Slav. might be rcincorporatcd with nations
10 which they racially synpaihctc Al
the same time. Observation-Disclosures should have
The same right OF free trade as Serbia before
the war enjoyed at Salonki and as it is pro-
posed TO give Russia at Constantinope
But the frankfurtcr Icitung's Pan-Gcrman
peace vii! appeal to no one save Pan
Germans. Even Germany's allies. if thew are
wise. will be likely to reject il