The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
ANNOUNCE new
PEACE SPEECH
BY CHANCELLOR
To Make Offer in Address to
Reichstag Thursday.
Confirms RumOrs of a Month of
Another "Peace Feeler."
BUT TERMS STILL MYSTERY
Allies Wary of Another Berlin
Political Coup.
Believe Kaiser's Hand Forced
by Socialists at Home.
Confirms RumOrs of a Month OF
Another "Peace Feeler."
But TERMS STILL MYSTERY
Believe Kaiser's Hand Forced
by Socialists at Home.

The Hague, May Imperial Chan
cellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg will
make peace offer in the German
reichstag on Thursday, the Berliner
Tagcblatt announced today.
For more than a month rumors of
another peace "feeler'' by the imperial
German chancellor have been circulat-
ing in Europe. A conference which
the Austrian emperor held with the
kaiser about that time was the basis
for reports that Austria, was pressing
for new peace offers by the central
powers.
OF more recent circulation have
been persistent reports that the eco
nomic situation in Germany was such
that her governmental leaders realized
some new play for public support must
DE made.
Empire Torn by Strikes.
Germany is believed today to be torn
with strikes of more or less magnitude,
! facing considerable discomfort over
steadily diminishing rations and with
her people aroused to a -esire for
greater participation in governmental
affairs
A few weeks ago German officials
showed their intense desire for a sepa-
rate peace with Russia thru Socialist
emissaries permitted to communicate
time came rumors from Austria and
Turkey indicating growing WEAKNESS
with war in those two allies of Ger
many.
United Press Copenhagen dis
patches recently forecast another
peace "feeler' by Bethmann-H ollweg
stating that the terms to be offered
in this second bid would on their face
appear to be more liberal than those
which were rumored at the time of the
first proffer on December u.
First Peace Move Political.
Students of German internal affairs
have maintained that Germany's first
peace proffer was induced by political
eXpediency, rather than a sincere de-
sire for Stoppage of the war. unless
that StOppage came on GermanyS own
terms. 1t was pointed out after the
first offer that Hollweg, by making it
and by receiving the flat refusal that
he and other German leaders fully ex-
pected when they put the plan into
operation, had forced unity for war of
all political parties.
The situation in Germany then was
that the Socialists wanted peace; the
Won TirpitZ advocates wanted I'M
bridled submarine warfare; the con-
serVatiVes fought submarine ruthless
ness fearing ENHANCEMENT with neu-
trals-including the United States.
Socialist Strength Fast Growing.
Hollwegs proffer was made with
out any terms by which the allies could
judge Germany's sincerity, because of
such an offer and knowledge from I'M
official hints that Germany wanted the
peace of a victor, the allies rejected it
The result, according to authorities
on German conditions, was that the
ruthless submarine warfare was de-
cided upon. The Won Tirpitz advocates
were pleased; the anti-ruthless branch
and the Socialists were quieted with
the plea that since Germany's enemies
insisted on further war, Germany must
use every weapon of defense.
Following this same reasoning, it
was believed possible that now, with
the Socialists fast growing in strength
and with many Germans holding the
forcing of America into the war a mis-
take, the German leaders have deter
mined upon another peace move with
exactly the same sort of a political
coup in view.