South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-07
TEUTON FIASCO
WITH RUSSIANS
FORCES CRISIS
New Alignment of Political
Parties Follows Collapse
of Negotiations at
BreSt LitOvSk.
international News Service.

international News Service:
WASHINGTON, Jan. Z. - A new
political crisis has enveloped Ger
many. Prussian miIitarism seems
10 have overreached itself in the
Russian negotiations As a result, n
new alignment OF political parties is
being forced, advices 10 diplomatic
and administration officials said to
day. The outcome still is in doubt
although it generally is accepted
that the present control will con-
tinue. at least for time, the mod
crate Pan-Germanists taking the
place Of the moderate socialists in
the majority combination.
Emphasized Too Much.
German Omcialdom apparently
emphasized the Russian situation too
much. officials say. They led the
German people TO believe that a
separate peace was certain and that
this would be preliminary only to
the commencing of general peace
negotiations. Breaking off OF the
Brest Litovsk negotiations, as a re-
suit. has come as a most unpleasant
surprise TO the German people and
especially 10 the socialist members
OF the reichstag. This is certain to
be added 10 when the text of Lloyd
Georges speech 70 the LabOrites
reaches Germany which Will be a
slow process as the imperial gov
ernment can be depended on TO let
only its own version of the British
premier's statements become public.
Forget Peace, Is Policy.
Interest in the new situation in
Germany does not come from any
belief here that il may hasten the
initiating OF a real peace movement
The attitude of the entente diplO-
mats here. and OF the officials who
have Pres't Wilson's entire conf
dence. is TO forget peace. Germany
all Germany without regard TO
party-is not yet ready for peace.
All Germans, the pacifsts included,
believe that Germany has won the
war. While that view is retained
officials said today, ii would be ut
terly useless 10 suggest a peace eN-
cept along German lines, something
which naturally has never even been
thought OF here.
The interest, however Centers in
the new political division which is
considered certain 10 follow the
Russian developments. That the
liberals will sharply criticize the
military party is certain. The lat
ter. 10 maintain their present con-
troll of the government. viii have
20 take radical steps. The result.
officials say. may be the anticipated
military dictatorship.
send speech 60 Russia.
To is not believed here that the
kaiser viii consent 70 any peace
negotiations at Stockholm despite
the fact that Sweden rs notoriously
German The danger that the
German peace representatives might
Get all the real facts as to the
economic and military situation fac
ing Germany would be too great. Of
rcials point out. Germany can he
expected 90 make every possible eff
fort 10 have the NEGOTIATIONS re-
sumed ne Brest Ljtovsk but there is
some doubt as 90 how successful
lhis will be
The entire text Of Lloyd Georges
speech was sent 40 PetroErad on
saturday IL was learned today tt
is hoped here that his message viii
have a co0d effect on the Russian
people Germany has insisted 10
the Russians that EnEiand's only
aim IS conquest This Lloyd George
now has fatty contra dicted. His
promise that the Dardanplles Will
he internationaHzed followed very
loosely the offer regarding this which
Turkey has made 20 Russia in her
bid for a separate peace.
Delay Aids Entente.
Of course Russia no longer is con
-ldered as a military fscto- in TIE
present war A socialist army. such
az now exists I'm Russia, can do
very little against trained Auslro-
German hordes But If a separate
peace is not concluded by Germany
and Austria must maintain vast
armies IN the east for many weeks
90 come and this will greatly aid the
allies n the west. As officials here
Explain b. every day that Russia re-
trains from agreeing on separate
peace with the central powers. is
hat much more TINS gained by the
sutsnte.