Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-31
Hopes for Basis of Peace.

Hopes for Basis of Peace.
DIR. David does not hope that peace
will result directly from the Stockholm
movement. The utmost he expects is
! that the conference will lay a basis
for peace movement on which peace
lovers in all countries can unite.
If the conferences prove abortive DR..
David declares that Germany has per-
fected its organization SO as to live on
what it can raise and will continue the
struggle without weakening. In an
swer to a question regarding the
present German attitude toward Amer
lea the socialist leader said that there
was no one in Germany who did not
regret the break with the United
States. and that 1t was the general
hope that the war would be concluded
before Americas participation in the
conflict could become actual.
Questioned as to the fate of the re-
form movement. DIR. David asserted
not specify as to whether the change
would be effected during or after the
war. 1--WE are-in seJ1e respects ahead
M more a democratic ii s ntSsiparIiament. @ M ' We
are also ahead of England in this respect
We need a more derpocratic franchise
for Prussia. and we are going to OBJ
tain it."
The German socialists apparently in-,
tend to remain in Copenhagen for some
days before proceeding to Stockholm.
Their stay there will be limited by the
prospect Of results and the reassem-
bling of the German reichstaS in July.
Will Not Give Up Alsace Lorraine.
The iavfSh promisss sstse or -the
outside Intermediates in the peace
movement that the German socialists
and the German government. in order
to arrange peace, would be ready to
negotiate a settlement OF the Alsace-
Lorraine question under the guise OF
frontier regulation" have no basis in
fact. according to a statement made
to the Associated Press by DR.. David.
DR.. David was emphatic in declaring
that no German party and no German
government could or would be found
which would consent to the alienation.
of territory which was regarded as q
fixed part of the German empire.
Called German Question.
According to the socialist leader. the
only alterations of frontier which
could be contemplated by the German
socialist party were such minor ones
as were baseo on local conditions and
considerations. Among the phrases he
used were:
THE question of Alsace-Lorraine 10
purely a German internal one."
"Alsace-Lorraine is German land"
The formula of peace without an
nexations does not apply to Alsace-
Lorraine. because there has been no
change in possession during the war"
Neither the German government
nor the German socialists are willing
to surrender Alsace-Lorraine."
Uncertain as to Belgium.
In further explanation of the pro-
gram with which the German majority
socialists are going to Stockholm, DIR.
David said that it included the "restora-
ton" of Belgium, but his language left
1t uncertain as to whether he meant
financial aid toward restoring the
desolated country to its pre-war con-
concerned, the ma ajority socialists ad-
vocate plebescite to determine
whether the population wishes the
establishment of kingdom under
Austro-German auspices or alignment
with Russia, either as part of that
country or as Polish state with close
relations to its great eastern neighbor.
The statement of DR.. David that the
German socialists do not consider the
possibility of any recession of Alsace-
Lorraine to France is illuminated by
an article in the socialist organ of
Mulhausen. Alsace. edited by the social
list reichstag deputy Joseph L. Emmel.
AS quoted by the Tageblatt. the
socialist organ argues against any
cession on the ground that in a CEN
tralized state like France there is no
place for racial particularism or for a
population like the Alsatians. marked
out by names and dialect from the great
body of the French nation. The paper
argues that federated structure like
Germany just meets on the other hand
the need for a state form in which AL
sace-Lorraine can fit as an independent
portion of the empire.
Germans Are Pleased.