Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-13
As Grasping As Ever.

Political conditions in Germany are apparently
so entanged and uncertain that it would be diff
cult to determine fully and precisely the motive be-
hind Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg's reported
pronouncement in his speech to the main commit
tee of the Reichstag:
Peace without annexations is not accept
able to Germany"
Was he speaking merely for momentary enect on
the parliamentary situation, or was he Volclng
fixed policy to which he hopes to rally formidable
and decisive support? Was he speaking the MIND
of Germany or only that of the Junkers?
There seeps through the censorship now and
then traces of sharp divisions in German senti-
ment. The extreme mitarists-those by whom
the war was begotten-still hug their visions of
vast conquests and vast indemnities; and 1t can
hardly be doubted that a partial victory or an in
conclusive peace would put them we'll on the way
to world dominion. over against these STANDS
group of Socialists and liberal thinkers las far as
liberal thinkers have any standing in the Hohen-
zollern land) who have outspokenly opposed an
nexations and indemnties; they would approve
settlement on basis of the status quo ante Be-
tween these two divers shades OF opinion re-
garding foreign policies, and there is no telling
what divergences over internal affairs. To steer
securely through all these swrling currents is
task to test the utmost adroitness of even so re-
sourceful a politician Won Bethmann-HollWeg.
From what we can gather, however, the Impe-
rial Chancellor is safe in assuming that no consid-
cradle element in Germany is yet in favor OF peace
on terms that would meet the conditions laid down
by the Entente Governments and by President
Wilson speaking for the United States We do
not doubt that in time the German people will
cone to see the necessity of accepting those con-
ditons and eventually will see their Droao JusUce'
Mt unless the Kaiser's subjects have undergone
comnlete change of mind concerning him ana
the military despotism of which he is the cehCer'
and unless they have undergone a complete cnange
of heart from the time when they rang church Dolls
ord lighted bonfires and made high revery In GEL
hro+ion of the Iustania murders, there is no rea-
con 70 hone that they are yet disposed to requite
pe1ciun or restore AlsaceLorraine to France or to
assent to the principle that mo people must De
forced under sovereignty under which IL does not
wish 70 live Nor is it to be wondered that they do
not vet see the terrible visage or their tyranny DIS
tho world sees it, Half century of unmitigated
Prussianism is enough to dull any people 10 con-
ceptions of freedom and Justice
Regardless then, of whether the Imperial
Chancellor spoke for German majority Wnen ne
declared that annexations still constituted part
of his Governments program, we shall 90 well u
oct unon assumption that the German mind is sui
a long way from accepting peace terms that would
satisfy the purposes and vindicate the principles
for which America entered the Germany is as
grasping as ever, and as ruthless
Russia is demonstrating that dancing isn't the
countrys only speciality.