Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
SoB0s Scrap of PAPER.

The latest German peace note is scrap of pa
per signed by a man named Solf. 1t proposes that
the Hun armies shall withdraw unmolested from
the territory they have invaded and piaged, with
draw in safety behind their own borders to a line
Of defense incomparably stronger than that from
which they are now being disastrously driven, and
from that vantage ground enter into peace de-
bate. It proposes in short that the Germans shall
extricate themselves from their present military
predicament, which If unaltered will force them
to unconditional surrender. and then begin negotia
tions-
The note declares. it is true, that the present
German Government" accepts President wilson
fourteen peace and that Its object in enter
ing into discussions would be only to agree upon
the practical details of the application of these
terms" But the very essence of the meaning
and value of those terms depends upon their
practical application depends. that is to say,
upon Just what shall be done in the matter OF re-
storing and requiting Belgium, just what shall be
done in the matter OF Alsace-Lorraine and of Italia
Irredenta, Just what reparation Germany shall
make for its four years Of outrage and murder on
land and sea, and just what guarantees it shall
give for keeping any peace to which il may sub
scribe. No one imagines for moment that Ger
many would voluntarily construe those fourteen
terms as the Allies construe them, and they must
De construed ana enforced II the IeITlDle years
since the summer of 1914 are to be more than
vain sacrifice. We dare not leave of these es-
sentiaI points to German Interpretation. its full
fiIlment TO German option for to do so would be
TO leave our cause-civilization's cause-contn-
gent upon a worthless word and the criminal will
The only sure way to make the Presidents
peace effective is to dictate precisely how the
Central Powers shall carry them out, and then keep
Allied bayonets at the Germans back until they
are executed in every essential detail But this
cannot be if enter into armstice with I'M
conquered German militarism. 1t cannot be if we
allow the Hun to withdraw securely, his armies all
intact and his murderous spirit unbroken. to strong
" fortified positions on his frontier and then allow
him the privilege of pareying and bargaining over
the concrete application of peace principles If by
any chance that tragicaI blunder should be COM
mitted the American and Allied would be
lost or the would be indefinitely prolonged and
its cost in human life immeasurably increased.
It matters not whether Foreign Minister Solf and
Chancellor Max and what is graphically alluded to
in the note as the present German Government"
are sincere nsineere. Even If the seemingly i'm
possible has come TO pass and German political
group is last speaking in good faith far its
own purpose is concerned. We have evidence that
this group represents any stable permanent author
ity; indeed, have every reason to believe that it
does not represent the Fedl rulers OI Oerah!s InaI
It is proceeding, in experimental defiance of the
empires military powers. unless it is their tool and
camouhage. In any circumstances should be
treading on quicksands if granted armistice
upon the entirely dubious conditions the Berlin note
writer's have proposed, upon any terms short
OF Germany's unconditional surrender.
This. confidently believe, will be the SUBJ
stance and import of the reply which the American
and Allied Governments will make. Certainly if
we may judge from the virtually unvarying COM
ment of the press in this country and in England,
France and Italy, it is the settled conviction of the
American and Allied peoples that there should be
neither peace truce parleying until the Hun
Is Internationally in the dust.
The pedestrian is convinced that gasless Sun
days make the streets safe for democracy.
At the present rate of progress, Pershing