The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-05
NEW GERMAN SCHEME.
INSIDIOUS EFFORT TO, INVOLVE
ALLIES IN PEACE TALK.
Meet in Aris They VIII Consult
Washingt. a.

Washington. Dec. S1.--Insidious ef-
forts Of the Germans to involve the
United States and the entente allies
III the peach negotiations proceeding
with the Russian Bolsheviki have de-
veloped to such stage that, in the
opinion Of some officials here. notice
OF the propaganda must be taken and
an attempt made 70 neutralize It.
If the british and French premiers
are to meet in Paris soon with the
purpose Of discussing advisability Of
receiving and arguing the proposals
of the Bolsheviki to participate in
the negotiations as have been report-
ed by a leading conservative British
newspaper, they will act in accord
ance with The agreement rigidly ad-a
hered TO b. all the entente allies un-
I'll The DETECTION Of Russia not to en-
tcrtain any peace. proposals from the
enemy without consultation with each
other. In diplomatic circles here to-
day it was said that any decision
from such meeting would be
promptly laid before the American
state department.
Germany is believed to be prepared
to offer a most any conceivable bait
to an individual enemy in order to
drive Il wedge into the allies End
cause its disruption and, having sue
ceeded measurably with Russia, is
trying TO get that nation to menace
her late allies
Rumors that have existed for past
fortnight to the effect that another
peace proposal was about to be
launched by the central powers, Ell
ther through the vatican or some
neutral state, are believed to have
their foundation in the adroit at
tempt Of The German negotiators to
use the Russian delegates for that
purpose. But in either case, if there
is to be another peace proposal
through those channels or if the Rus
sian negotiations are to be made the
vehicle te, carry forward the German
designs. it is believed in some QUAR-
ters here that the time is ripe. 1ot
for strong and well considered dee.
laration by the entente powers ana
America that will effectively antict~-
pate and counter this attack 1t has
been pointed out by state department
officials that President Wilson all
ready has twice announced Americas
war aims in unequivocal terms.
Therefore II is assumed that If LLOYD
George and Georges Clemenceau. az
ter consulting the spokesman of tho
allies, decide that reply shall be
made to the German proposals. that
reply must take some other form than
an address by the American chief
executive.
Since none of the entente coun.
tries has recognized the Lenine-Trot-
ky regime in Russia 1t will be dim.
cult for the Bolsheviki to convey the
invitation for peace discussion. but
1t is regarded as entirely possible that
the Gerr IN government might re-
quest the swiss foreign Office to trans.
nit an invitation to America and to
her co-belligerents
Genera. staff officers here are nm.
derstood TO attach great significance
TO the present attempt of the central
powers to force the entente powers 70
peace negotiations. To their mind IL
is a clear indication that the German
military leaders have accomplished
all that they fAel capable of doing In
the field. They can hold on" for a
long time yet, it is suggested. but
they can not extend fields of occupa-
ton without an enormous loss of men
and time at the risk of a terrible de.
feat Therefore the Teutonic diplo-
matists seek TO, realize everything DOS
sible from what the German armies
have, done and the Brest-Litovsk me-
hn