New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-14
The Bait
cermany's Next Alluring Peace
Gesture

OpareC Recently q StiOliS EXPOSITION
j Of the next German peace offer
:. II may be expected to phrase itself
rhsn Germany definitely decides she can
~.;n no victory on the Western front.
When this comes what will be the re-
s,onse in America and among the AL
lies?
The article proceeds, in part. as fol-
lows:
aIn order to appreciate the probability Of
his coming 10 pass, it is necessary to look
AZ the situation through German eyes. The
Germans as we all know, have Russia at
their mercy: their knees are upon her chcst.
Y within the next few weeks Germany can
establish herself firmly enough in Russia
che will Justly feel that the whole Eastern
world stretching from the Baltic as far as
India and the shores of the Pacific is open
to her operations. The Baltic, as
she hones, will be a German sea- Sweden.
:. is true-not to mention others-has her
plsce. her rights and her privileges in that
sea; but Germany, in the frenzy Of reckon
ing I'D her new gains, is not likely to be
much troubled by the thought that Sweden
may exchange the old anmosity against
pussia for new animosity against Ger
many. Very likely Germany is quite cor
tent that Sweden should hate as long as she
iears.
an the South of Russia Germany beholds
wonderful granary, even though, as we
believe that granary is not at all we'll
stocked at the moment. She sees her way
open to the Black Sea and beholds new
ba
into Asia. What Japan may think of ell
this prospect it is still impossible to say.
But this is matter which need
only be mentioned in passing. The real
point to bear in mind is that if Germany Is
to make her control eastward firm, harsh
and profitable in her accustomed triple
manner. she will have taken on as much as
she can possibly manage without looking
westward.
"She knows that the strength and morale
Of her armies are not what they were; he,
economic exhaustion is great, even though
it does not entirely prohibit extra Oriental
ambitions, and she must be telling herself
that it is definitely impossible for her to
advance to Paris or take any coast towns
in Northern France.
when we talk of Germany as the great
est Of military powers, we too often forget
that she is also a very great commercial
power She is, in fact, predominantly d
commercial power, for she could not be
great military power if she were not. The
NO conditions are interdependent. Now in
these circumstances what is Germany likely
10 do? In order to make good her new
possessions she Will undoubtedly want 20
many of her economic resources as
she can, and to save them as quickly IS
human beings have to be ranked very high
rot indeed in the first place. She VIII
not want TO throw away a single man as
cannon fodder whom she can save to re-
construct the new empire of the German
nation.
II WHAT manner would the offer OF d
L general peace be made? The German
rulers, on this occasion and for this pur-
pose, would probably not be restrained
from making the offer enticing by any fea-
Of appearing to their own people to have
Jailed or to be leading Germany on to nu-
initiation They would be able to point 10
the vast successes in the East to silence
such criticism. We think it likely enough,
then, that Germany before long will tell
Us tina. a Christian nation, inspired by
the highest ideals Of humanity and by The
the hands OF other people (or in any other
Phrases in the same sense that the Kaiser
may happen TO invent, she is quite ready
to evacuate Belgium and Serbia and North
ern France. She may even promise to ca
gage heartily in the work Of restoring Bel
GUM ard Serbia-though no doubt She
would try TO introduce financial antiquities
which she would be able to interpret at
home as proof that the Allies were really
Paying the bill for having forced Germany
INTO her heroic Of Defence 1t is even
possible that Germany would think it worth
while 10 discuss in an apparently friendly
ana yielding spirit the question of Alsace-
Lorraine. That she has any real intentlon
at present of yielding the rich mineral dis
'flcts Of the French lost provinces, since
she regards these as essential to her mill
'ary plans, we do not for q moment sup
pose Nevertheless, it may be imagined
nat her desire for peace will be SO strong
mat she Will not think it advisable to pu:
any unnecessary hindrances in her own
way.
The question now arises what the an
f"er Of the Allies ought to be if Germany
mould make such an offer as this. 1t can
hardly be doubted that one Of the first ln.
pulses OF war-weary world, sickened with
Asugnter, would be TO jump 1t proposal
mat seemed 70 provide justice for Belgium
and Serbia and gave the Western people
On opportunity Of what might be repre-
sehted az peace with honor. Many argu-
ments might be summoned TO reinforce this
primary Impulse, and If the circumstances
should ever arise there be no doubt
nat they viii be summoned It would be
hsld, for instance, that Russia had chosen
" commit suicide and could not expect any
protests on her he
But If the war is a war Of principles, i.
IN remain every bit much war Of
principles after the Germans have made
saen an offer. We have talked for over
nree and half years about destroying
herman rnilitarism and the hdcous atmos-
p"efs Of Insinccrity, wrangling and rara-
s'oos dizhonesty which miltarism mposes