The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-16

Germany. and German policy carried
out by very different rulers before we
can even hope to discuss peace. 1t Is
true that all nations desire the end of
the war, but peace must be lasting. 1t
must be one founded upon the recog-
milton of the independence of n-;tions.
Above all, it must be one which, in Mr..
Wilson's words, makes the world safe
for democracy"
The Daily Chronicle. grouping the
Austrian note with the offer to Bel
GUM and the proposal to withdraw
from Karilia, as related incidents,
says:
Every one of these proposals will
certainly be rejected. The fact that
they are made concurrenpy is proof
that the central empires are in a very
bad way. In Berlin and Vienna 1t is
realized for the first time that the GEN.
trail powers cannot possibly win the
war"
The Times says:
1.-The note is the stalest of dip1o-
matte tricks. Austria and Germany
hope for its rejection in order to per-
suade their disheartened peoples and
armies that conclusive reason exists
for continuing the contest. This move
will not deceive the allied democra-
cies''
London, Sept. 16.-There will be no
hasty response to the Austrian peace
proposals.
According to the best available in
formation the reply will come only
after the most intimate exchange of
opinions between the entente and
American governments.
Meanwhile all official opinion will
be held pending this decision,
which diplomats declare will be the
"most delicate'' question of policy
since the declaration of war.
Unofficial opinion is divided, ''sta1-
warts" believing the proposal merely a
super-peace offensive, acceptance of
which would be to trap the allies into
compromise terms.
One Element Wavcrs.
On the other hand those who favor
peace by negotiation, assert that a
compliance would not be dangerous
and would be the best way of learning
whether II will be necessary to carry
lied terms can be obtained in the flu
ture. Both factions agree that the al
lied decision depends upon which
opinion the government considers the
correct one.
At the same time the allied diplo-
| mats must take cognizance of Ger
many's offer of a separate peace to
Belgium.
The London morning papers COM
| mented on Austrias proposals as fol-
lows:
another Brest-Litovsk Scheme"
Express-'The proposal brings peace
no nearer. 1t is true that all peoples
long for speedy end to the struggle,
but the allies have stated their preiin,-
mary conditions. They are: With
drawal from Belgium and France:
abrogation of the Rrest- Litovsk and
Bucharest treaties. etc. There is not
the faintest suggestion that the cen
will
tfons. 1t is just an invitation to q Sc
cret conference at which bargains ca
be struck and the destruction OF mill
tarism prevented. Hindenburg wants
time to pull his armies together. Me-
EQUATIONS mean a practical armistice.
Germany's note to Belgium is another
Brest-Litovsk scheme"
Not the Way to Real Pence.
Chronicle-"Two motives inspire the
note-first, the desire to embarrass the
entente by throwing upon it the odium
or continuing the war. Second. a gen
uine longing for peace. Berlin and
vienna now realize for the first time
that the central powers cannot win the
war. Instead they are fearful with
the dread of defeat and disaster. No
one wants to continue the war a day
longer than necessary, but the entente
are not going to be fooled with an UNI
real peace. It would be foolish to ex-
pect good results from a conference
until Berlin and Vienna change their
methods of negotiations. In wilson (;
language. no general peace, no peace
worth the infinite sacrifice of these
years of tragical suffering can be ar
| rived at under the old method of bar
ter and concession"
A German Trick.
The Times-"Germany is EMPLOYING
Austria to sham peace proposals and
cover up her efforts to gain time while
Hindenburg organizes his forces. 1t is
one of the Oldest and stalest tricks of
diplomacy. What the central empires
really hope for is rejection of the pro-
posal SO that they can again present
to their disheartened peoples their rea-
sons sor continuing the war They also
hope to break the entente'S solid front
Should Demand Definite Proposal.
Manchester .Guardian-"It would be
monstrous flout If the proposal, as
such, should be flouted as heretofore
1t would also be unwarranted to lay
down definite military conditions as a
prerequisite to any discussion. On the
other hand, we fear peace will be de-
layed II we entertain the central pow
ers' proposition without some sugges-
ton of the enemy's approach to our
well known proposals. We think the
allies should request an expression
relative to the lines laid down by Will
SON and Lloyd George. Let us, above
all things avoid replying in such terms
as to give the wayerers fresh resolu-
ton"
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