New-York tribune., 1918-02-11
No Hope of Peace Through
Scheidemarm, Says Walling

the near future-as Scheidemann con-
templates means there will have
been no revolutionary political change
in Germany, and we can be certain
that Mr.. Wilson's declared principle OF
protecting tn. natives rights will pre-
vent the surrender Of a square foot
of territory to n junker or semi jun
ker government.
Wilson Firm Against
Any Compromise
We can be certain, then, that care
ful examination would show that Herr
Scheldemann does not agree with a sim
gle one Of Mr.. Wilson's peace princi-
plcs-Herr Schcidemann himself to the
contrary Notwithstanding. And Mr..
Wilson'S principles are not there for
trading purposes. Each one involves
the liberty Of some great population
or the peace of the world. Not one.
therefore, can be surrendered. AS Mr..
wilson. has repeatedly pointed out,
there is no room for "any compro-
mise"
Nor arc the German Minority Social
lists much more democratic in their
peace ideas. Even more than the
Majority they were behind the Stock
!, nolm agitation to let the anti-war
Socialist minorities in tho Entente
countries settle the war. They are also
behind the present Soviet "covern
ment" in Russia and are close to the
holsheviki-though they do not agree
with them that there should be anv
revolution just now in Germany (the
ontD point upon which the Western
democracies do agree with the Bolshe-
vik).
OF the nine concrete points in Mr..
Wilson's programme it is probable that
the Minority Socialists agree in part
as to two-thc German colonies and
Italian Austria-though even on these
questions radical, if not insoluble, diff
ferences remain. They would also give
q very insufficient indemnity to Bel
gium-an indemnity absolutely unac-
ceptable to the Entente. (Probably
they would want the German colonies
to count as that INDEMNIFY
On the remaining principles, involv-
ing Alsace Lorraine (where they would
have have plebiscite arranged to give a
German RESULT, Poland, Austria, Tur
key and the Balkans-anv one of these
colossal problems a sufficient cause for
refusing German peace--they are in
accord with Scheidemann and opposed
to Wilson.
Let US cease to deude ourselves
about the German Socialists until we
rave convinced them that what lies
ahead Of Germany is not a drawn war
with large part of the benefit of
past victories retained by Germany
but a decisive and possibly an over
whelming military defeat.
Got Bolsheviki
For the Gar
We hailed the overthrow of the Car
and we got the Bolsheviki. We are
now told to put our faith in the
dem ocratization of Germany. Yet an
undefeated German social democracy
may prove even more hostile than have
the Bolsheviki to the peace principles
or the great western democracies. In
stead of joining the great western
democracies the Bolsheviki. regarding
themselves as called upon to lead the
world, have invited US to abandon the
institutions we have won through CEN
turles Of struggle against autocracv
and to follow them.
IN the same way the German Social
sts regard themselves not as brother
democrats. but as leaders. whom the
other peoples are invited to follow.
NA> NOII'iA 4iiCu III CNlS view DIV
he German Socialist parties scattered
over the world. Let us not forget that
even the Bolsheviki acknowledge hav-
ng gone to school to the German So
'ialists. and would at once accept their
leadership as soon as they got into
power in Germany.
Having revolted against Czar and
Kaiser, these kindcrgartners in democ-
racy would more than ever insist that
The western democracies overthrow
heir tyrants-Woodrow Wilson and
Lloyd George! These supermen, un-
less previously defeated, would under
take to dictate the peace terms in ac-
cordance with their strange concep-
lions of democracy, as exemplified hv
Scheldemann, Haasc and the Bolshe-
Wiki
Doubtless German social democ-
racy defeated in war will be more
to genuinely democratic
peace programme than would Junker
caste defeated in war, for the Junkers
would scarcely acknowledge defeat un-
III III the last extremties. Hence a
German revolution is invaluable, pro
vlded 1t is preceded or accompanied bv
German defeat
But let us beware lest before the
German armies are defeated pseudo
revolution be used to produce real revo-
lutlons in Italy and France. And let us
ever remember that a Socialist Ger
many or semi-Socialist Germany
which is more likely) does not neces-
sarily mean the end of the war