The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1918-09-16

trian proposal the slightest hope that
the goal of peace is ready attain
able"
GERMANY's STAND DIFFERENT
TOWARD BELGIUM AND RUSSIA.
at could not be more clearly set
forth than 1t was by Won Payer last
week that Germany intended to pay
no indemnify to Belgium" Mr. Bal
four continued. He indicated, the
Foreign Secretary said, that Germany
did not believe in the principle OF In
IDENTITIES. and yet at the same time
she was squeezing millions OF dollars
out OF Russia.
This" the speaker went on. was
for the wrongs Russia Is supposed to
have done Germany. How can those
wrongs be compared with the devas-
tation and ruin which Germany is
wreaking on Russia now?"
Regarding the question OF colonies,
Secretary Balfour said:
1.-THE colonies are one question on
which there is no misunderstanding.
We stand on one side and Germany
on the other"
Austrio's invitation has been received
generally with indignant reputation.
Tho note is seen by commentators as
n German trick in which Austria Is
made the catspaw in an endeavor TO
% ha ifra
Command to reorganiHe its shattered
troops. The offer of peace to Belgium
is regarded as a shameless insult.
The Austrian proposal invites all
the belligerent Governments to enter
into binding discussions at some
neutral meeting place. 1t states that
the object OF the conference would be
10 secure an exchange OF views which
would show whether those prerequl-
sites exist which would make the
speedy inauguration OF peace negotia-
tions appear promising" II suggests
there need be no interruption OF the
war.
Germany's peace offer TO Belgium
demands that in exchange for the
complete evacuation OF Belgium's t.r-
ritory that country remain neutral
until the end of the war and that she
help Germany secure the return O.,
German colonies.
"The Austrian note does not bring
real peace any nearer" says the Ex-
press. Preliminary conditions to
peace have been stated over and over
again by the Allies, and there is not
the faintest suggestion that the Cen
trail Powers will agree 10 any one OF
these conditions. They who drew the
sword are scheming TO save them
selves from perishing by the sword,
The disngenuousness OF the note be-
trays that II was written in Wilhelm
strasse. Berlin"
Relative to the offer of peace to
Belgium the Express says:
This is another Brest- Lltovsk
scheme and part of the same plan
for preserving the power OF the Ho-
henzollerns."
the pacifist Daily News Is the sole
exception TO the prevalent tone OF
comment. Anticipating general re-
lection OF the Austrian proposals, II
says that responsible, sober minded
men should, nevertheless, face the
proposals squarely. The paper ar.
gues that discussions must occur
sooner or later as preliminary tC
peace,
"An impudent sham" is the Mails
editorial head over its comment on
the note. which IL describes as IAN
other form OF an old German trick"
THE German Emperor Is a ventril-
oquist whose voice we may hear II
this Austrian telegram" the news.
paper continues, "and we hear II be-
cause the military masters undel
whom Germany is bleeding are afraid
II is not humanity which they have
in view, but the safety OF their owl
skins, This German trick has beer
disposed OF In advance by PresideH
Wilson's mastery addresses.
= We remind the enemy OF Preslden