The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-10-10
U. S. NOT FOOLED BY |
PEACE PROPOSALS.
Peace Offers Only Continuation Of
Germany's Long Waged Peace
Offensive

Washington, Oct. 5.-An Austrian
appeal for an armistice for discussion
of peace on President wilson's own
terms is regarded here as the logical
sequel Of the presidents recent sum-
mary rejection of the proposal that
hostilites be suspended for secret and
non-binding peace discussions.
What the American governments
answer to such an appeal would be is
indicated by the statement authorized
when the Austro-Hungarian foreign
minister complained that his accept
ance Of President Wilson's principles
had not been noticed-that peace
could not be talked of upon any terms
so long as Germany and Austria oc-
cupied a foot OF conqured territory.
There is no disposition to believe,
however, that an early end of the wal
is in sight, in spite of the fact that the
Germans are known to be desperately
anxious to halt by diplomacy the
steady advance of their enemies to-
ward the German border.
Proposals will continue to come
thru, and there is no doubt here that
Dor or later as the great task of
driving the Germans out OF Belgium
and France progress the Teutonic al
lance will crumble and seek such
terms as were given Bulgaria.
In the meantime every offer and
suggestions is regarded as nothing
more than a continuation of the long
waged peace offensive, for the recent
reorganization OF the German cabinet
is not regarded as Indicating any real
change of heart in Berlin or as MAX
ing the actual masters of Germany
any more worthy of trust
Prince Maximisian's predecessors
leading thru various shades of AFRO
gance and cOnessions, down to Won
Hertling, could not humble them
selves to the point of dealing with the
enemy on the basis of confessed de-
feat for the German arms.
In the official view here Macmillan
hopes to find a way to save Germany.
from abasement without completely
abandoning tn idea of a negotiated
peace.
Analysing the propositions which
he Is expected t. mack, officials find
that they are in general a combina-
ton of the ideas set. out in the reichs-
tag resoltiuno of July, 1917, with,
those of Count Burian, the Austrian
foreign minister, and with some con-
cessions demanded by the social de-
mocrats at their latest meetings.
Regarding the first, looking to an
immediate suspension of hostilities,
IL is suggested that an armistice
might be granted, or rather a suspen-
sion of attack by the allies agreed to,
long enough to permit the central
powers to effect their withdrawal of
military forces from all occupied ter
ritory, but even in such a S e,ade-
quatc guarantee certainly would be
exacted for the honest performance of
this obligation by Germany and Aust
ria.
The proposal to send p~lenipoten-
tiaries to a neutral place to discuss
questions of a league for international
arbitration and disarmament is re-
garded as a transparent effort to an
ticipate the peace council and prob
ably would not be entertained for a
moment for that reason.
The same objection lies against
discussion of the liberalization OF
Austria, the right of self determine
ton of the Russian border states. re-
stitution and naturalization of Bel
GUM, autonomy for Alsace-Lorraine
and the return of the German colo
MES.