Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-18
Jokers" In Germany's Peace Terms

Russia would display consummate stupldliN nE
agreeing 20 armistice with Germany now or b!
even considering the eoCalicd peace terms enan-
ating from Berlin.
The end of the weary is in sight II Russia
now reOrganizcs her army shows stiff front on the
east 'and continues her effective fighting in MeSoPo
1amia With that end crowned with victory for the
Allies. Russia gain incomparahly more than oE
any possible agreement now for separate peace.
While the dispatches Of Saturday. Sunday ana
Monday show that Germany is using every diplom-
attic artfce to befog the situation there seems less
fear now Of a separate peace than two weeks ago
AT thai time it appeared that the great peasant
class and the powerful businessmen might favor
cessation of hostilties Since then there have been
definite announcements by congresses in Petrograd
that Russia not only must turn a deaf ear to the
rAprdIng of the Germans and prO-'termans. out
must speedily attempt offensive of her own on
that west front where Br1%ilof last summer struck
some heavy blows.
Germanv's peace terms extended to Russia
pledce restitution Of Russias conquered provinces
with the exception of that territory taken OE tle
Austrians Berlin knows better than TO PROMISE
the return of Austrias fruits of battle, 1or 'nd'
would at once ALLEVIATE the Emperor Charles VINO
has already displayed disquieting signs OF an lnde
pendence Of Germany.
But while promising to restore these provinces
Germany proposes that there be established
"friendlv understanding with regard to Poland
Iithuania and Courland--equivalent to giving Ger
many q strong hand in their management. Inc
.ioker" in this portion of the offer is percephbe
Serbia has nothing to gain by the proposed peace
for Germany dare not propose restoration TO the
Serbs of the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
as these are to be held by Austria. Berlin has sug
O.. Mon JTOn
sition which the leaders of both countries shattered
though they are, Immediately repudiate
Germany has no idea of giving Russia the rights
of the Dardanelles for that would ALLEVIATE Turkey
and always be it remembered that Turkey is to be
preserved from Allied conquest so that it can be
used in the ambitious Germanie scheme of "Mlt-
teleuropa"-of mighty GermaniC empire stretch
ing from the Balticsea to the Persian Gulf.
A few weeks ago when Maxim Gorky, the Russian
author exposed the attempts made by Berlin to buy
off Russia, it came out that Germany had suggested
the Observation-Disclosures of interoceanic canals Pre-
sumably this is one method of assuring Russia her
long desired access to an open winter port-through
the DardanelIes But it likewise awakens Americans
to the danger that Germany will insist also on inter
Matchmaking the Panama Canal. Germany also
makes no secret of her intention to emerge from the
war-if her plots succeed-with "such degree of
German naval power as shall guarantee its imme-
date superiority possible enemies on the seas
at the beginning of the hostilites." These the
words of Germany's leading military writer repre-
senting the dominating class-Count zu Reventlow.
Gorky's revelations early this month were illum-
mating He told how D. Rizow, the Bulgarian min
lister at Berlin had sent him, by two separate Ger
man agents, proposals for a separate peace RizoW
admitted that he had previously received two re
pulses, one from the Russian ministers at Stockholm
and Christiania and sone from DR.. Paul Milukov.
then minister of foreign affairs in the provisional
government at Petrograd. Rizow made to Gorky the
following concrete proposal:
HRussia to conclude an immediate aruistice with
her foes both belligerents retaining their present
fronts and to summon Immediately Russia con-
stituent assembly with the aim of deciding peace
or war"
Gorky, while an advocate of peace to an extent
which is almost fanatical, at denounced this
proposal. ,.-~...
Today's dispatches indicate that Germany is re-
ncwing the suggestion OF armstice. Of course
Germany has nothing to lose and everything 70 gain
by such q course. Germany needs every man Gu the
western front. Already the German high command
has detached some hundreds of thousands perhaps
than half million from the east to throw into
the weakening line on the west. If Russia can be
cajoled into definite cessation Of hostilities the
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