El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-16
WORLD FAST BEING EXHAUSTED
FIGHTING, PEACE MAY CONE SOON
Germans Begin to See the Light and English French
and Italians Are Already Planning the Things They
VIII Demand at the Peace Conference; Turkey
to Suffer Most in Territorial Loss.
Confined from page IL

On 10 include the country in the
HapHburE federation should he
abandoned under pressure from
tie EIlies.
only second IN difficulty to the
territorial readjustment OF south
eastern Europe Is the Alsace-Lor-
-ains question Everyone is willing
% fight ito the DEATH" as Lloyd
george said, for q reconsideration"
II this problem. But there has been
3 change In opinion about Alsaee-
Lorraine from year ago, when nine
Englishmen out Of ten dismissed the
question by saying that the provinces
rust simply be handed back to
france.
PIebescife IN AIsaee Possible.
This Is due 70 the Increasing hold
supon mems minds Of the democratic
principles Of self-determination OF
natfonallties- Many influential lib
erals think that 20 lay down a gen
afaI principle and attempt to apply
81 everywhere excepting in Alsace-
Lorraine. but 20 refuse Q plebiscite IN
these provinces on the ground that
Of the will OF the inha bitants, is an
Inconsistency that cannot be per
,nitted- A strong section Of the
French Socialist party agrees with
the demand for a plebiscite.
i Is Tot denied that the difficult
ties Cf holding a fair and honest vote
u these provinces are almost insup-
suit, but many hold that important
parts OF each province would vote
French and other parts German, and
that accoI dinghy a compromise might
Re effected. ] do not wish to say
that majority opinion here supports
z plebiscite rather than "dls-annexa-
ficn" by France at Germauy's ex-
pense. ] DO not think Il does, as yet
But labor has pronounced for a pleb-
1sclte. opinion seems veeI Ing In that
direction. and Lloyd George recog-
nized the fact by the using the word
s'reconsfderatious Instead OF "restitu-
ton"
May Let Germany Grab RuEsiz.
Lloyd George probably spoke for
the bulk OF English opinion when
he said that II Russia concluded a
separate peace under conditions which
left her northern provinces OF Cour-
land and Lithuania under control Of
szs enemy. Il would not be possible
for the aiiics 10 prevent Germany
from continuing in occupation. 50
deep Is the resentment at Russia that
tho man in the street would not OBJ
sect 10 German acquisitions at her
expense
More responsible opinion holds.
however. that II Is vital for the safe
~ OF Poland that the neighboring
provinces be keTt out OF German con-
troll. and the allies viii help in any
way possible 70 keep them for Rus
sia. or 70 maintain their independence
81 they vote for autonomy. It is
blindness 20 overlook the possibility,
however. that Il may not be possible
20 prevent their virtual annexation.
A Dispatch from London is not the
place 70 discuss the aspirations Of
italy. All the allies are agreed that
italy must have the TrentinO and
some territory On her eastern frontier
Bat the principle OF nationality. and
~ free choire for populations that are
- be transferred may come In con-
1iict with italian desires to make an
leLarions Tor strategic reasons. legi-
l-lr4-e re frnFe rea SIMS would he IN