The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-24
Willing To Forego Annexa-
tions And Indemnities
In The West
OFFER NOT TAKEN
VERY SERIOUSLY
Intended To Stir Paciists
Here And Appease
German Socialists
lBv Associated Press.l


Amsterdam, July 24.-GernanT
has made suggestions for a peace
conference to the Spanish governr
ment, says The Socialist Vorwaerta
of Berlin.
The suggestions are:
First-Germany wants no anne2a.-
tions or indemnities in the west.
second-The peace treaties with
Russia and Rumania may not be
questioned. s
Third-The principle of self deter"
ninationr of peoples has not been
Discus ssed, but may be settled 81 the
peace conference where the fate OF
Belgium also is to be settled.
Fourth-The Balkan question is to
be settled around the conference taS
BILE.
Fifth-The freedom of the seas. the
dismantling OF Gibraltar and the
Suez canal and the right for Ger~
many to use coaling stations.
Sixth-The colonial question is to
be settled on the basis OF the status
quo.
The Vorwaerts considers this a
very reasonable peace program.
The term STATUS quo" applied in
the foregoing to the German colonial
question, has been rather loosely
used in the past in connection with
the solution of various peace prob
lens. In general, it has been en~
ployed as an abbreviation OF the
term Status quo ante bellum".
Germanys position heretofore, as
indicated by her leading statesmen
has one of insistence upon the re-t
turn of her colonies, and there has
been nothing in the recent utterances
Of the German leaders tending to
show that this attitude had been
changed. 1t was even indicated that
the pawn" held by Germany in the
shape of Belgium, was intended to
be used to secure the giving back OF
her former colonial possessions.
Washington View of II.
Washington, July 24.-In the peaca
suggestions which The Berlin Vor-
waerts declares the German govern
ment is about to advance to the en7
tente and America through the
Spanish government, officials here
detect the German design. embodied
in some shape in almost every one
Of the peace proposals which have
emanated from Berlin or Vienna, to
leave to a round table conference the
actual definition Of peace terms.
President Wilson and Premiers
Lloyd George OF Great Britain and
Clemenceau of France have record-
ed themselves definitely that no
peace conference will be entered un~
L. l. fEva
the Central Powers of the exact
terms upon which the conference ig
to be conducted and Of the broad
principles to govern the negotiators.
Officials here point out that Ger
many is quite well aware of these
conditions and consequently they can
only view this reported new attempt
at peace negotiations az another ap-
peal TO rac:fiat elements in the ema
tentc ara also as Intended to quiet
the uneasy So"!alistic elements with@
in the Central Powers, who are be-
loved TO be again III q dangerous
mood.
Acting Secretary of State Polk
said the new terms seemed more Ia
vor1ibIs to Germany than any that
had been made hitherto.
(seriuanS's IlsnrncIation OF aT2y de-
signs On woEte1r1 territory in con-
sideGatlcn OF the retention OF the
spoils ghs has Wrung from Russia
and RaImania through the Brest-
Litovsk and Jassy treaties, it Is also
point out, is directly at variance with
President Wilson'S declaration, aeca
onded by Great Britain, OF his firm
intention to stand behind Russia
Finally as a further evidence that
these new peace negotiations are glYl.
acceptable, officials call attention to
President Wilson's firm declara ian
that the wrong done to France in
1870, through the seizure of Alsacae
Lorraine by Germany, and the wrona
done Belgium In the enforced oeeu-
patton by Germany, must be undoaes
Consequently officials hold char theaa
great issues cannot be left to anw
round table conference.
It is also noted that Vorwaersa ia
not representative of the German
government in any sense, that ~ sa
the socialistie mOuthpieca and THAT
it would be the last among tlle
German papers to be tn position a
set out the purposes og the govern
ment In ordinary conditions