The daily banner., 1918-01-23
GERMANY'S PRESS
REFLECTS TURMOIL
Discord is Rife Throughout The
Country, Papers Received i'll Lon
don ShoW-Plan to Divide Russia.
L. EnrinS of

don Show-Plan to Divide Russia
New York, Jan. 21.-Copies OF
German papers recently received il
London throw clear light upon t.
, growing clash OF opinion in tn =
pire over questions arising froh, tFr
war and upon the aims OF the diffeS
ent factions.
Combinations of statements thai
the kaiser's diplomatic agents are
. deliberately planning to use the
principle of the self-determination OF
races and small nations for the pur-
pose OF breaking up Russia and thus
making that country impotent
against German schemes i'll the fu-
ture is found in copy Of Deutsche
Politik. Writing in that publication,
DR.. Paul ROhrDach, generally regar-
ded as d semi-Cilicial mOuthpiece OF
the German Government. after eX-
pressing considerable shepticism
about the prospects OF the German-
Russian armistice becoming perma-
nent, said:
1t is high time for us openly to
set up against Muscoyite Russia the
program of self-determination OF the
peoples and the freedom OF the small
nations. If the BOIsheNiki accept it
and really conclude peace upon this
basis, then goOd-aIways provided
that kaledines; kerensky, Nicholas
or some other former commander in
chief does not march into Petro-
grad tomorrow and refuse to ar
range an armistice at the front ac-
cOrding to the instructions OF the
MaXimaliSt government. If, on the
other hand. the Bolsheyiki fall, all
the more reason not to delay the
proclamation OF the program OF in
dependence of the alien people as
against Moscow. But We must lose
no more time, because otherwise we
shall find the English first using this
weapon in Turkey ana then snatch
ing it out of our hand in Russia"
From the midst of the discord in
Germany comes the prospectus of
the peoples League for Freedom
and Fatherland," the organization
recently launched by the opponents
of the extreme Pan-Germans and
militarists, with an appeal to all real
lovers of the Fatherland to unite for
more liberty at home and clear for
eign policy.
The league hopes to line up both
the German workers and the more
liberal business interests against the
anneXatienist program promoted by
the Won TirpitZ-Reyentlow element.
According to the Frankfurter lei
tung, the foundation of the new Or
ganization is extremely imposing" :"
1t consists of committees OF the
German trade unions, both Socialist
and Christian, the Union of German
Railway Workers, the Union of Ger
man Clerks, and the Union of Ger
man Traders The organization in
cludes trade union leaders such as
Bauer, Legien and Giesberts of the
Center Party, and among the promo
ters are DR.. Bernhard Dernburg,
Friedrich Nauman and Professor
Delbruck.
The prospectus, which was put out
on December 20, says that the lea-
.gtse is the d -.
working classes for "a strong and
free empire" and, as translated for
the London Times, makes tho follow
ing demands:
In view of the still unbroken VIII
to destruction on the part OF our
enemies, the utmost combination of
our forces until that will to destruc-
ton is broken.
Immediate domestic reform and a
liberal building up of State institu
tions by the joint labor of all circles
of the people in order thus to siren
CITIZEN the force of the people, to in
crease its cheerfulness, to give the
support of a firm popular will to
Government willing to make reforms
and to draw from the character of a
modern State the necessary deduc-
tions which every nation must today
draw in connection with its develop
ment. ,.~
"A clear foreign policy, supported
by people and Government, which
aims at a lasting peace, secures sup
ply of raw materials and markets for
our trade, and put the existence, hon
or and freedom of development of
the peoples upon a basis of morality
and law"