New-York tribune., 1918-02-27
Germany Would Stop

Gilbert. writing from Washington, "only
war is talked-war and the coming de-
nunciation of Germany's duplicity.'
That is the first unofficial reaction to
the failure of the exclusively American
peace drive.
1t was our own hazardous adventure,
undertaken without the knowledge or CO.
operation Of the Allies
It's first effect was to intensity in Great
Britain the struggle between on one side
the Lloyd George government and the
idea of victory first, and, on the other
side, pacifsm, war WEAKNESS and the As
quth opposition.
It's second effect was to create the IL
fusion, if not the fact, of peace negotia-
tons taking place, not between Germany
and the Allies, but between the Central
Powers on one hand and the United States
alone on the other
It's third effect was enormously to stm-
ulate the thought of peace by negotia-
ton all over the world and to make an
intellectual dimness over all that area of
human concern which in his message to
the Pope, August 27, 1917, Mr. Wilson
wonderfully illuminated by the following
tense white phrase on the German power.
Can peace be based upon restitution of
lis power or upon ony mord Of honor ii
could ptedgc jn treaty Of settlement and
accommodations
This we had forgotten
We were soliciting the adherence of
that same German power to four princi-
pies of peace, as the basis for beginning
the pledge Of words in treaty of settle
ment.'
But the next and most distressing effects
Of our independent peace drive are taking
place. We cannot tell yet how far they
will reach.
We have been too scornful of German
diplomacy and too ready to forget that
Germans employ words not as vehicles of
meaning but as weapons.
The German power which. in Mr.. Will
sons own opinion, has no word of honor
to pledge, accepts his four principles OF
peace i'll such manner as to challenee the
understanding between the United States
and her allies. especially Great Britain.
The German Chancellor says;
81 can Fundamentally agree with the four
principles which in President Wilson'S view.
must be applied i'll mutual exchange Of
views and thus declare with President VIII,
son that general peace can be discussed
such q basis"
IN that short paragraph the fact is twice
emphasized that the peace PRINCIPLES wer,
those not of the Allied enemy. but Of
President Wilson.
The Chancellor proceeds to lamens the
fact that the war aims of the "Entonta
y especially Great Britain, are still imperial
istIc. This theme having been sufficiently
elaborated, he comes suddenly to the poin+
of the wedge:
The world, especially the neutral world
Is asking if the gate is not open to q gcn
eral peace, but France. Great Britain and
Italy STILL it seems are completely unwill-
ing to listen to the voice of reason and
humanity"
France, Great Britain and Italy-thosc
three. They are standing against the cate
of peace, says the German Chancellor as
he applauds President Wilson'S peace
principles,
We have richly earned this embarrass
ment. The edge of the wedge which we
sought to drive between Austria and Ger
many now is turned against us. That is
not very important, for, of course. the
understanding between the United States
and the Allies is not vulnerable.
But Germany at the same time has
launched a counter peace offensive.
She invites what remains of the BELGIAN
government to max informal proposals
and promises not to be antagonistic.
She suggests that representatives of