Evening star., 1917-04-14

negotiations between Russian and Ger
| man socialists, as against the diplo-
matte denials in the socialist news
pa pers here and in Berlin.
The first negotiations, says the cor
respondent. who is socialist member
of the Danish parliament, We're broken
on, enabling two papers to launch a
denial that they were in progress, but
they were Immediately resumed and
are being prosecuted vigorously. The
correspondent then enters into a dis
cussfon of peace terms, in which he ap-
pears to take German socialist eXpec-
tations and hopes for the government
policy.
Proposals by Germany.
Il am assured from an absolutely
trustworthy source" he says, that
Germany is ready to restore Belgium
and Serbia. evacuate France, and, with
Turkey, arrange an agreement with
Russia over the free navigation of the
Dardanelles. An agreement is also pos
sible on the Polish question, as the
Russian government knows"
The correspondent pictures England
as the sole obstacle to peace There is
reason to believe that the first part of
his statement regarding negotiations
between Russian and German socialists
is correct. but his exposition of German
peace terms conflicts with the recent
highly official declaration of the North
German Gazette, that Germany is will
ing to conclude peace, but on terms
compatible with the great sacrifice
which she has made.
Count Won Reventlow's Position.
Count Won Reventlow continues his
campaign in the Tages Zeitung. day in
and day out, against any thought of
compromise peace which will not give
to Germany in full measure what is
demanded by the annexationists. in
both the east and the west. He eX
presses the hope that the renewal re-
Gently of the proposal for a peace con-
ference by Count Czerrlin, the Austro-
Hungarian foreign minister. which the
socialists are now trying to emphasize,
has been buried definitely. saying it is
undesirable to permit the western pow
ers to have hand in the Russo-Ger-
man settlement. He intimates that
KrSsia must reconcile herself to the
loss of territories considered necessary
for the future greatness of Germany,
but chat she may procure compensa
ton elsewhere. probably in Rumania
and Persia. which would enable her,
he says. to consider honorable and ad-
vantageouS terms of peace.
In another article Count Won Revent--
low breaks the lance with Foreign Sec
retary Zimmerman, to whom he has
transferred his old enmity against the
foreign office. He asserts that it is now
less than ever in the interest of Ger
many ito sing political serenades to
the Japanese. or attempt to use Car
rama as matchmaker. He warns
against placing any hope in Japan
Although Germany and Japan. to a
certain extent, are natural allies. the
opportunity for an alliance has passed
ne says. as Japan for the present prob
ably will decide to maintain relations
with Anglo-Saxondom, and continue to
get all possible profits therefrom.
Scheidemann's Mission Discussed
The Tageblatt of Berlin. discussing
Copenhagen dispatches relative to the
presence here of Philip Scheidemann,
leader of the majority socialists, a
peace errand, mentions "a we'll known
centrist member of the reichstag" as also
taking a hand in the parleys.
The Tageblatt does not reveal his name,
but it probably would not be far wrong to
identify him as Matthias Erzberger. leader
of the clerical center. whose proclivity
for dabbling in foreign affairs is we'll
known. Furthermore, the German govern
ment has been subsidizng heavily propa-
ganda bureau under his auspices This
bureaus function is to influence the tone
Of the neutral press, and it is also direct
ing propaganda in Italy and Rumania
The Tageblatt exposes the hollowness
of the denials with which the govern
ment, German socialists and others
concerned. are endeavoring to shade
. Il oil fno dali to Inn ~
peace effort with the Russian socialists
from the light of publicity, which
might perhaps wither It. The Tageblatt
says the German maj ajority socialists
who hitherto have voted regularly for
the war credits. may perhaps be well
coined less warmly by the Russian So
cialists than is hoped. 1t agrees with
Count Won Reventlow. though. for diff
ferent reasons, in regarding the
chances for success with skepticism.
Comment in Germany.
AMSTERDAM. via London. April IA
The German newspapers say that not
only is Philip Scheidemann, leader of
the majority socialists, on his way to
Stockholm, but that he is accompanied
by three prominent German socialists
Adder. Erzberger and Haase. The four
men are travelling on special passports.
and it is belieyed in Berlin socialist
circles that they will meet envoys Of
the Russian government. with whom
they will proceed to Petrograd.
The socialist newspaper Norwaerts
of Berlin says. editorially:
THE German government must have
the courage to tell the German people
| the whole truth. which is simply that
| it is impossible to dictate terms of
| peace to a world of enemies"
German Nerves Giving Way.
| The military critic of the Vossische
| Zeitung of Berlin writes that he has
| received many letters which prove that
| 1.-The nerves of many readers are begin
ming to give way" He dwelIs on the
"unfounded excitement" which he states
| is spreading among those at home, and
| warns the public not to judge the sit
uation from single events, but to take
| events as whole into consideration.
Austrian to Meet Scheidemann.
! THE HAGUE, April IA, via London,
$3.50 p.m.-The Vossische Zeitung of
Berlin learns from Vienna that the
Austrian socialist leaders. Victor Ad-
/ Ter. Herr Heuner and Herr Seitz. had
conference of three hours with For
eign Minister Czernin Thursday. Herr
/ Adler then left for Berlin with the in
tention Of joining Philip Scheidemann
the German socialist leader. in Copen-
hagen.