The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-17
Report President Will Use
Moscow Ratification as
Basis for Utterance.
HOPE RESTS IN SWORD
TeutOn Propaganda Said to
Be Subterfuge to Slow Up
Military Preparation.
PEOPLE BEHIND KAISER
Washington Still Opposed to
Landing Of Nipponese or En-
tente Troops in Siberia.
HOPE RESTS IN SWORD
PEOPLE BEHIND KAISER


WASHINGTON. March 16.-Coincident
with reports that President Wilson
might make in the near future a declara-
tlon on the international situation. with
particular reference to Russia, officials
here cmphatically denounced to-day the
latest crop OF peace reports as tending
to place this Government In humiliat-
ing position, besides assisting Germany's
propaganda launched for the purpose OF
rctarding American military prepara-
tons
1t was emphasized in State Depart
ment circles that the Government was
giving no thought whatever to peace
considerations now and that no time was
being wasted in studying so-called peace
suggestions which numerous self-ap-
pointed agents are circulating at their
own expense for reasons not clear
The report that the Central Powers
had approached an American Govern
ment official in Eerne. Switzerland. with
a peace teeler has been investigated and
turns out TO be merely 4 proposal Ia
thered by a private individual who may
be in the pay of the German Foreign OF
flee IN tn. role OF propagandist. but
proba bly,. according to officials here. Is
another OF the thousands Of volunteers"
ready to end the war by his private ef-
forts.
"vOIuntcers" Are Under Pay.
According to officials here. Europe, and
| particularly Switzerland, is swarnnE
| with these "volunteers.'' Germany Is
! making use OF some OF them by paying
; them to keep the idea Of peace alive In
enemy countries. The German Govern
ment presumably is prepared TO con.
| tinue this profitable game OF keeping
peace propaganda going TO weaken
military preparations in enemy countries
| and lull the war spirit into half speed
efficiency.
| According TO advices which have
I reached the state Department the only
! peace which the German or Austrian
| people would consider now Is peace
based on overwhelming German victory.
| The military party is in the saddle
more securely than ever before. The
! people and press in the Central Powers
| are drunk with victory" and predicting
that their enemies must now sue for
| peace which will be dictated by tho
| kalser's sword
! The pan-(;erman press absolutely
| dominates pubic opinion Even the
! line with the most pronounced policy or
! German militaris'n and conquest Tho
| Socialist newspaper Iorruerts, which
/! always complains against the Govern
ment's policy but exercises no vestige
, ot influence except with a small labor
! Socialist element OF chronic macon-
| tents. Is about the only German news
paper to sound discordant note.
For this reason quotations from For-
rnert, are regarded now as valueless
so far as indicative OF German opinion
Is concerned and II is expected that tho
| Committee on Public Information will
| no longer take the trouble 10 circulate
| translations from this newspaper for
! American readers.
The reply OF the Soviet Congress 10
| President Wilson'S message 10 the Rus
sian people has done much to dissipate
hopes Of seeing the Russian people free
themselves from German control. 1t is
now realized that the United states can
! not count on the defeat of Germany
except through military victory. Hopes
that Germany would disintegra'e or
break through "con"T'H pressure has
! been all but abandoned here,