The sun., 1918-10-09
HOW THE PEOPLE VIEW
THE PEACE OFFENSIVE.
Il Docs Not Come From o Properly
Accredited Source. e.. ID

Accredited source. e..
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-etr: Tn
latest German peace offer accepts" on
terms az tho basis OF a peace discussion
and By many who cannot even be calle'
pacihsts the offer will be Inevitably re
gsrded rs worth consideration. Is IL I
sincere offer or 10 II q skilful desigi
to injure our Liberty Loan prospect
and damage our war morale? The an
swer TO this must be carefully considered
IL this possible design 10 to be foiiet
without at the same time passing ovei
a possible chance for the termination o.
the war oil acceptable terms ..-
Many win say that, since German,
accepts. what moro can We want? Thi.
would be to lose sight Of the fact tina
she has only said she accepts. which
In her case 10 a different thing from
actual acceptance. She demands an
armistice pending the discussion Of do.
tails, and nothing could benefit her more
at this time from the military stand.
point than a cessation Of hostilities. We
must not lose sight Of the possibility
that thfs may be the sole purpose OF
the PROPOSITION, since nothing binds Ger
many to make good in the end her &C.
ceptance. Nothing prevents her. when
she has had the military benefit Of an
armistice. from declining q continuance
OF the discussion. and II we must sus-
pect the possible motive she has her
feif and her own treschery In the past
to blame. The possibility justines our
refusal OF the arnistlce condition unleL>
Germany hrst gives some adequate guar.
sntee OF sincerity.
What suarantee7 II has been said
that she should withdraw from Belgium
and France or other similar conditions.
Unfortunately they are conditions OF inn
probable attainment, and their insistence
might prolong the war and avoid DOS
siole chance OF peace on acceptable
terms. Germany knows that there can
DO no peace without these things, but
IN the last analysis It may not be en-
tirely reasonable to expect the surrender
OF a military advantage pending the
discussion Of terms. But there IL q
guarantee she can give to destroy all
suspicion OF unfair motives. and II 10.
moreover. one without which there can
be no acceptance of President Wilson's
terms On December 4, 1917. he said
to Congress:
we shall regard the war only as won
when the German people say 20 US through
their properly accredited representatives
that they are ready, &c.
We have had no message from auy
properly accredited representative of the
German people. or from any but self
appointees The apparent grant, by
these self-constituted rulers OF certain
ro-called constitutional rights will foo,
nobody. The German people have the
inherent right to q representative gov.
eminent instituted by themselves in the
form they elect. and a grant Of ''rlxhtsy
by self-constituted autocrats who proll
pose to continue themselves in Office by
further grants to themselves cannot
constitute any one as the properly ac-
credited spokesman OF the German peo-
pie within the Presidents meaning. No
one has spoken who comes within that
only those responsible for the
world desolation Of the past four years.
Shall we listen to them7 / for one
say no. unless they will give the only
suara"'ee OF sincerity within their
p""er' anu that Is their own abdication
~ ia'or OF government established
"nonS ny the VIII or their people; one
"o'''u'eiy irrespective OF rights they
may 'ee II. 10 grant Our own losses SO
nave Deeh small compared to our
lies. Out small though they be, feel
fhANr x.-tll
,aa' 'ney VIII nave been suffered in vain
:. my peace IS made that leaves a
or Hapsburg or their
'iNe on throne OF the world. This war
vas NOT OF our seeking and since It was
.'rceu upon us TO make democracy safe
lor ene world The time has come to
p'oe'h natiy ana hnally that there can
20 NO sate.y TOT Hapsours or any other |
uou appoihted ruler on earth.
INC aooication OF the German and |
autocrats-the Allies can take |
'are OF the rest-will furnish the only |
guarantee that comes within the peace |
erms OF our President, Not until Ger |
many speaks through the mouth Of her !
'wn elected appointees can she be en-
" an An's'ice or discussion |
u terms as iaid down. because any other