The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-24
Cannot Be Swaysd.

International News Service.)
Washington. July 24.--"No new. Ger
man peace offensive will distract our
attention from the real task OF winning
! the war. Such suggestions as now are
being put forth from inspired German
sources are insults to American intel
ligence. When Germany really desires
peace she knows on what terms she can
get it,"
That was the declaration OF very
high administration official today when
| sh own the London dispatches outlin-
ing Germany's new terms of peace
which the Berlin Vorwaerts says have
been sent to Spain with suggestions
that they be used to bring out n peace
conference. Other administration Of
ficials united In this declaration. The
proposed new German plan was de-
clared to be insulting in the extreme.
THE terms OF n thief negotiating to
save his loot" was a favorite charac-
| terization.
For the benefit of the International
News Service an official In the presi-
dents confidence while insisting that
It was utterly fooiiskssto do so. cons
sented to lanalyze the German terms as
| foliows: ~fel.i
Number Germany Is willing to
forego annexations and indemnities In
the west IL permitted to retain her
stolen territory in the east, and doDi-
nate Russia.
Number Two-Germany insists that
Russia and Rumania remain vassal
states so wants the allies to %. X the
crimes already committed against these
two weaker peoples.
Number Threc-Prinoiples Of self
determination to be settled at the peace
table. Stripped of verbiage Germany
would want to trade Belgium and the
Balkans for her lost colonies.
Number Four-The same as num- |
Der three.
Number Five-Germany to disman-
tie her encmy's strongholds in the way |
best suited to give her all advantage
In this connection 1t was pointed out
that President Wilson at Mount Ver-
non on July I, practically replied to the
new German terms when he said:
what we seek is the reign Of law,
based upon consent of the governed and
sustained by the organized opinion Of
mankind"
At that time the president told the
world that there can be no compromise;
no half way decision would be toler-
able; no half way decision Is conceiv-
able. And he made 1t plain. once and
for all, that there could be no peace
by negotiation" which had for its OBJ
ject debating and seeking to reconcile
and accommodate what statesmen may
wish, with their projects for balances
Of power and of national opportunity"
Until Germany accepts the principles
outlined by the president, officials de-
,lared again today. there will be no
interest whatever here in feelers for
,eace put forth from Germany. The
,alarce of the war has swung against
Germany. Not only in the fighting on
he western front. but in the develop
nents now concealed in Austi O. Hun
,ary. the swing Is against the Central
,owers and all of the allies are strain
ng every nerve to take full advantage
# 1t.
At the Spanish embassy officials said
hat they had not received any infor-
nationg dealing with the reported
ierman proposals. II was explained
hat, IL any action was taken in the 7
natter at all, 1t would be taken In
Iadrid. I
The state department also was with
ut any official information on the :
'orwaert's pence proposals.
Inc term STATUS quo applied in the :
oregoing to the German colonial ques-
ion has been rather loosely used in I
he past In connection with the solu-
lon of various problems. In general, ,
has been employed as an abbrevia-
ion of the term status quo ante bel
Im."
Germany's position heretofore, MS
,dicated by her leading statesmen,
as been one of insistence upon the I
eturn Of her colonies. and there has =
cen nothing In the recent utterances
the German leaders tending to show !
nat this attitude has been changed. !
was even indicated that the pawn"
eld by Germany in the shape OF Rel
ium was intended to be used to secure .
he giving bnok Of her former colonial :