The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-03-19

ers have believed that President Will
son was bluffing in his peace de-
mands and that. if Russia was forced
to terms, he would be willing to listen
to new peace suggestions which would
seemingly give him all that he has de-
manded for Belgium and northern
France, while leaving Germany free
to execute her will on Russia.
1t was not until the president III
rectly addressed the soviet that Ger
many realized that America was in
deadly earnest and that she intended
that peace, when it comes, shall be
agreed to by races and nationalities
who shall have the only say as to the
government under which they must
live. And even though the soviet fail
ed to accept the position of the United
States and reject the German peace
terms, officials here who are familiar
with what is going on behind the cur
tain of German censorship declare that
official Germany. for the first time
is convinced that peace by negotiation
will never be arranged This realiza-
ton has had the effect of flashing the
German militarists into white rage
with the result that new drives are
being planned with America decided
on to bear the brunt
This decision, already reported to
and considered by the army and
navy, is pleasing to Washington. 1t
is possible that as a result both the
army and navy will have opportuni-
ties soon which the officers and men
alike have hoped for but which have
so far been denied them. The plans
taken to meet the new developments
ar complete. They were adopted long
ago and now are in effect. What they
are the results will demonstrate.
Meanwhile there was much discus
sion here of the reports today that
new peace terms have been directly Of
fered to Great Britain through Spain
and rejected without consideration.
This report grows out OF the state
ment by Lord Robert Cecil, British
minister of blocade, yesterday when
asked whether peace proposals at the
expense of Russia had actually been
made that mo such proposals are be-
ing considered or would be consider
ed The fact that denial was not
made that feelers along this line had
been put out had been considered here
as somewhat significant. Diplomatic
officials say that they feel certain that
such feelers actually were put forth
and very likely through Spanish
sources.
What knowledge of any such propo-
sition President Wilson had is known
only to the president and Secretary
Lansing. There has been no state
ment on the subject so far But it is
pointed out as significant that the
president, in addressing the Russian
soviet, made it extremely plain that
the United States felt morally respons-
ible for the safeguarding of Russian
territory
AS for the Dutch situation, Germany
has already let it be known at The
Hague that she bitterly resents the
action of the United States and
Great Britain. 1t is now expected that
Holland will lodge, if indeed she has
not already done so, formal protest
against action by the United States
against Dutch shipping. This protest
will be disregarded as the administra-
ton is convinced of the necessity of
taking over the 100000 tons of ship
ping now flying the Dutch flag which
is available for seizure. This is ex-
pected to force new action by Ger
many against Holland.