The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-01-04
PEACE PR0
No Faith is Placed BY W.
ington Officials.
MADE THROUGH RUSSIA
Americas Purpoce Has Not Altered
viii Enter into No Pact With
Present Prussian Govern
ment.

Washington. Germany's proposals
to the Russian Bolshevjk ENJOYS
through the Austro-Hungarian Foreign
Minister for basis of peace have at
tracted little more than passing inter
est here, chiefly because the attitude
of the United States Government has
not changed in any degree since Pres
ident Wilson solemni,. told Congress
that the word Of the present rulers of
Germany could not be accepted for
anything worth while.
Moreover, officials here sthink the
very conditions imposed BY the Teu-
tonic plenipotentiaries stamp their
promises of no annexations and no in
IDENTITIES as insincere.
1t has been assumed from the first
that the object of the Germans would
be to keep the Russians talking as long
as possible, confuse the situation in
every conceivable way and thereby
gain time for further troop movements
to France, while impressing their peo-
pie at home with the idea that the
Kaiser really wants to make peace.
Americas Purpose Firm.
One condition regarded as impos-
sible for the present, at least, is that
the adherence of all belligerents must
be secured to the peace the Germans
are trying to make with Russia before
it can become effective This is ac-
companied by demand for. the return
of the German colonies now in the pos.
session of Russia's allies.
1t can be stated authoritatively that
the position of the American Govern
ment has not changed in any respect
with regard to its determination to en-
ter into no agreement with Govern
ment which does not represent the
free will of the governed people This
would dispose of any hope the Ger
mans might have that the Russians
could induce America to subscribe to
the peace treaty which they are now
trying to arrange. AS for the German
colonies, y the American Government
has never recorded itself on the sub
ject and Lloyd George recently de-
clared that was a subject for the peace
conference.
Alsace-Lorraine In Way.
No provision is made in Count Ger
Minis terms for the return to France of
Alsace-Lorraine, which is regarded
here as condition that must be met
as a preliminary to any peace agree
ment, an understanding declared by
President wilson in his message to
Congress. In the light of the extraor-
binary efforts Germany has been MAX
ing to rid those provinces of French
inhabitants it is believed here that
Germany may propose plebiscite of
inhabitants, relying upon the vote of
German soldiers and the imported Ger.
man population, but such proposal
probably would be rejected by the
United States and her co-belligerents.
Apparently Belgium is promised
freedom by Count Czernin if all the
other German demands are met. But
officials note there is a reservation, al
most inseparab,e from German diplo-
macy, in the shape of guarantees"
which Germany requires to insure the
execution of all these complicated fac
tors of the peace treaty. From public
declarations of German statesmen and
publicists, 1t is understood that as
guarantees" Germany would insist on
retaining control of Belgium for an
indefinite period
No Fresdom For Poland.
The German insistence that the
pledge to restore the political indie
pendence of countries occupied by the
Central Powers shall not apply to ma
tionalities which did not previously
enjoy independence is regarded as
aimed directly at the projected Polish
state. Even were such a state created
as result of the peace treaty, it
would have to be on the lines of the
subject-kingdom which Germany and
Austria already have created.
>Pted by Washington ON
covers are pre-
art To regain