Evening journal., 1918-03-08
BY GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER.
Copyright. 1918. by the Newspaper
Enterprise Assoclation.l

NOopSrient. 1918. by the Newspaper
Enterprise Assoclation.)
PARIS, March s-A man who should
have known better, OF whose sympa-
thies were in the wrong place. said.
IN the cabinet Of certain high officials
here, that Germany was In a worse way
that anyone knew and that when she
came forward with offers Of peace, hu-
manity should prompt the Allies to
listen.
There was a moment Of rather awk-
ward silence. In which brows knotted
and lips Strengthened and faces grew
tense; then one French gentleman who
has a very important position in the
government. who has 25 male relatives
dead In this war, whose innrmity alone
prevents him from completing the num-
Der with 26, and who spent years
eror9h in America 10 talk that Ian
guaes fluently. turned slowly In his
chair and said:
II a German came 10 me with an
offer Of peace. would knock him sense
less Immediately and turn him over
TO see whether he had a gas bomb OF
plain bludgeon concealed behind
him when he held out the olive branch.
There will never be any bona-flde Ger
man offer Of peace until II Is coupled
with an appeal for mercy. and even
then the appeal is more than likely TO
be an attempt at deception.
Germany talked peace with Russia
across the trenches until the resistance
OF Russia was weakened, and her flrst
acts when she considered Russia su-
pine, were acts Of greed and contempt.
"Her soldiers talked peace with the
soldiers OF Italy across the trenches
while they were preparing for the Of
fensiVe which undid all that Italy had
poured out her best blood 10 attain.
And each Of Germany's peace talks
across the diplomatic trenches had In
view the same object; to weaken the
determination Of one OF another OF tho
allies, or to cause a split among them.
THE replies Of Count Hertling and
Count Czernin TO the speeches OF Pres
ident Wilson and Mr. Lloyd George
were the most insolent OF all In their
assumption Of stupidity on the part Of
the Allies.
Promptly on the receipt Of these
replies, it was announced. In this room,
that in the opinion OF France, neither
in the speech OF the German chsncel-
lor nor In the Czernin speech was there
any hope Of peace. or even one definite
answer to the very definite proposals
OF President Wilson; that Count Hert-
ling's speech was notable for the aD-
sence. for the first time, In any recent
speech OF German chancellor, OF the
words without annexation and without
indemnity
1T Is now known that at the very
time Of the making Of those speeches.
the practical seizure and partition OF
Belgium had been decided upon, in de-
tail by Germany.
IN the statement Of Count Hertllng
regH ding Belgium. 1t was insisted upon
that the whole Belgian question. In gen
eral and In detail, must be left for
agreement during the peace negotia-
tions
in other words. It was frankly and
clearly set forth that the fate Of Bel
gium would not be made a matter Of
right and justice. but a matter Of bar
gaininri
Count Hertling was equally clear
when ne referred to the north of
France. and calmly called attention TO
the fact that the occupied portions OF
French territory are now an important
asset In Germany's hands, and that
their evacuation must take the vital
interests Of Germany into account
Again the assumption Of an imper-
lialistic conqueror: the insinustion that
20 the victors belong the spoils Fall
sifed history was used 20 support that
position, and take away the badness
OF it.
There was nothing In Count Hert-
ling's speech in recognition Of the ltai-
ian national claims. nothing recognizing
the rights Of the Balkan States TO exist
as States, nothing recognizing the right
20 free national existence In the States
held under he ruthless domination OF
Turkey, nothing to deny the intention
Of maintaining a hlgh-handed imper-
ianstio sway from Antwerp to Bagdad,
and over all between.
"The fate OF Poland, Mr.. Wilson and
the allies were coolly told. must be
left 10 Germany, Austria and Poland,
and with characteristic insolence no
f-rentlon Of Russia was made in this
important matter; for Russia was al
ready treated as a crushed and con-
duered territory. 10 be done with as
the conquerors saw Mt.
1T was broadly intimsted by Count
Hertling that Germany will not con-
sent 10 an international disarmament
The other nations may disarm, but not
GermdnN.
1T was broadly threatened that an
economic alliance against Germany will
bring on another war, and the plan
was broadly repgdiated that after an
international peace is declared, there
may be a closing Of the sea or any part
OF Il In order TO quell obsireperous vio-
lators Of the peace OF the worlu.
In the code Of Germany, as In .hC
code Of every other criminal, there
must be no punishment for criminals.
Germany, however, eagerly suggests
that 10 would be OF great Importance tc
the freedom Of the seas to do away
with such strongly fortified bases as
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