The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-07
WAR MAY shift
into DIPLOMATIC
CHANNELS SOON
But Americas War Machine
viii Not SIacken Speed.
Taking No Chances Because OF
FURRY Over Peace.
TERMS OUT ON BOTH SIDES
Up to Germany To Decide To
Fight 1t Out or Negotiate.
Strong Sentiment in L. S. To
Make Kaiser Beg for Peace.
TERMS OUT ON BOTH SIDES
Up to Germany To Decide To
: Fight 1t Out or Negotiate.
Strong Sentiment in U. S. To
Make Kaiser Beg for Peace.
BY CARL d. GROAT.

: Washington, Jan. America will
push her work without a thought that
peace may be drawing nearer.
< Secretary of War Baker and other
officials held today that there must be
no letting down in preparations.
Peace, they said, now is up to Ger
many Lloyd George has stated the
allied terms and insofar as unofficial
expressions here go, these are Amer
teas terms. too.
: If Germany wants to reform her
self and accept these terms, the way
Is open. But if she wants to fight on,
the allies and America are fully aware
of and ready for the bloody sacrifices
Involved, all officials agree.
4 They added that it would be little
Short of reasonable and foolhardy for
this nation to slow up now merely
because of growing conviction that
the allies and Teutons are getting
of unofficial statement of peace aims.
Fight Sentiment Strong.
4 True, authorities here, including
men high in the military councils, do
believe that peace is coming up more
rapidly than is the general belief. But
if they had their way wholly, there
would not even be a statement of war
aims. Instead, there would be a pol.
icy of blood and iron which would
ultimately make the German lines
crumble and the kaiser beg for peace.
Z Some military men, however are
inclined to feel that already the war is
Shifting into the diplomatic field. That
by the mere fact of a statement of
terms from both Sides a desire for
peace is manifest which sows the seed
for actual negotiations. Not that they
think Germany is going to accept
Lloyd Georges terms right away but
they believe that Germany now knows
that she cannot win and is willing,
therefore, a a n r.
Inent.
Peace or War Crisis at Hand.
One neutral diplomat sized up the
situation today as a case of peace in
three or four months or war of three
or four years. That may be said to be
a more or less prevalent opinion here,
tho those who venture into prophecy
vary in their maximum and minimum
Figures considerably.
1 The thought here is that Lloyd
George cleverIy offset German propa-
ganda by disclaiming any intent to
crush the German people while at the
same time he made a distinct bid for
p separate Austrian peace and skill
fully Unanswered to draw the Rus
slams back into the allied fold.
If Austria finally heeds the cry for
peace and the Russians definitely set
themselves against Germany so she
cannot get supplies. then will peace
be little short of a reality. experts say.
Russian officials are SkeptlcaI, how
ever, of any permanent alignment be-
tween the allies and Russia. Her cry
is peace, peace and regardless of what
party comes into power they feel that
the Slavs will stick to their separate
peace program, unless a general peace
is unanswered in the meantime.
Officials anticipate that Germany
will modify her position toward Rus
STA, having failed to bully the Slavs
at Brest-Litovsk. Teuton threats to
use force in accomplishing their de-
anands are regarded as camouflage.
However, further allied efforts will
be made to induce Russia to return to
the flock These attempts will be di-
rected toward showing Russia that her
salvation lies only with the allies.