EtEAj!S' octqbeb .1. 1917
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' 'Tlie world was astonished and surprised at the German move for peace, but no one
knew whether it was to be taken 'seriously. Great Britain instructed her embassies
and legations in neutral countries to find out whether the Chancellor really desired
to make peace or whether his statements were to quiet internal troubles "
REPUBLIC ?
Copm.hU kit. bt " """"
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tofarnxgunizedHad the Situation in Germany
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v , ' M UttlunwonUHWent to Great Head"
farters o Plcd With the Kaiser arid Von
Iiindcnhurg fojitEtort to Quiet German
Public Opinim;r ,
0 f TVtw cJSSBorn the Noted Peace
Proffer Which W,s uenouncw uy ... ..o
w imtntereProposalImmcdiatelu After
Thmt the Official Press Bureau Was Reor
r&diend a Wan Trusted by the Military
iPkmd in Charge
KftONTJSD by graver troubles within Germany than those from
ttld, the'Chancellor went to great headquarters to report
IwmM be done to unite the German nation.
rtiil the army had been successful in Rumania and had given
Dm Jtefple renewed confidence, this was not great enough to carry
'ttw jple through another nard winter.
Hy tfat iw ships' would be sunk without warning, the submarines
v lift adhering very closely tto the written instructions. The
irhtk werjd was -aroused wcr Germany's repeated disregard of
v ' ,&&' and practice ofjjjea Warfare. President Wilson, through
JlHrtninim'irr Gerard, had sent nine inquiries to the Foreign Office
fl)rfjir for a report from. Germany on the sinking of vurious ships
uI"mu' Minlpinr in tntpmntional lnw. hut rnntrnMj n r!omnn..n
fmL In an attempt ta ward off many of the neutral indict
ftti f Germany's sea warfare the official North German Gazette
r
I'W tT?'acation containing the following:
AmOfffcM U-Doat Pronouncement
"The activity of our submarines in the Atlantic Ocean and
WWte Sea: has led the press of the entire world to producing
'wttcfei a to the waging of cruiser warfareby means of subma-
! In both cases it can he nreurntnlv cfutn 4liof V.n. : -
M el. submarine wnrfnrn horn, hut- nf mlini. ,nf ..... .i
7--. , w w .&ui.a ttuiiaic nugvu
L Hm AUDDOrt rflf Ruhmnrinoa nnil thn lfnita nMAr..l 1.!4t.n.i.
1e activities of our submarines do not admit of any other
h,.jii piie oi ine cnaeavors ot the Uritish press to twist
present facts. It is also strictly correct to state that
-warfare which is heincr wnci-rl hv mnt nf uiVmiirlno.
'trict compliance with the German prize regulations, which
iipond to the international rules laid down and agreed to in
Declaration of London, which arc not being any more complied
by England. The accusations nnd rlinrwa hrnncrhl- fmi.nr.l
Vl.'- r ! . . . . ....
arm po jiiiuan press ana propaganaa campaign in connect on with
jrV,.'fclps sunfe can be shown as futile.'asour position is, both militarily
M nA from the standpoint of international law, irreproachable. We
F 4n not sink neutral ships per se, as was recently declared in a
.- proclamation, but the ammunition transports and other contraband
' 'W&fe8 Conducive tn till nrnlnnrrnt-fnn nf thn xtrn nnr) 4-Vin w:t.iH Ar
p defensive measures as regards this cannot be denied Germany any
more man any other country.
"Based on this idea, it is clearly obvious that the real loss of
the destruction of tonnage must be attributed to the supplies sent
to England and not to the attitude displayed by Germany, which
lus but recourse to purely defensive measures. If the attitude
displayed by England toward neutrals during the courseof this
W be considered, the manner in which it forced compulsory supplies
of contraband goods, etc., it can be further recognized that England
is responsible for the losses in ships, as it is owing to England's
Attitude that the cause is to be found.
"Although Encland has hit and crinnled WiHmntn trnrlo n
ek an extent, Germany does not wish to act in the same manner,
kut simply to stop the shipments of contrabaand goods Calculated
'to lengthen the war. England evidently is being hard hit by our
-, 'defensive submarine measures and is, therefore, doing all in her
power to incite public opinion against the German methods of
warfare and confuse opinion in neutral countries.
Anerelore it must again be recalled that it is:
"England which has crippled neutral trade!
"England which has rendered the freeddm of the seas impossible!
"England which has extended the risk of contraband wares in
'l'l.- i! ..e - i ...
" " "" - "" " -""""""' -m'"1 -" .saateLia-i'Sii " "as - " -" "-" c"-""'' -"" i w by
excess of international agreements, and now raises a cry when the
same weapons are used against herself.
"England which has compelled the neutrals to supply these
shipments of contraband goods calculated to lengthen the war!
"As the neutrals' quietly ncquiesccd when there was h question
of abandoning trade with the Central Powers, they have remedies
in hand for the losses of ships which affect them so deeply. They
need only consider the fact that German submarines on the high
seas are able to prevent war services to the enemy in the ship
ments of contraband goods in a manner that is both militarily and
from the standpoint of international law irreproachable. If they
agree to desist from the shipment of contraband goods and cease
yielding to British pressure, then they will not have to complain
of losses in ships and can retain the same for peaceful aims."
This was aimed especially at' America. Naval critics did not
permit the opportunity to pass to call to the attention of the Gov
ernment, that Germany's promises in the Sussex case were only
conditional and that, therefore, they could be broken at any time.
The Chancellor was in a most difficult situation; so was Von
Hindenburg and the Kaiser. On December 10 it was announced
that the Reichstag would be called to a special session on the
twelfth and that the Chancellor would discuss the international
situation as it was affected by the Rumanian campaign.
The meeting of December 12 was the best attended and most
impressive one of the Reichstag since August 4, 1914. Before the
Chancellor left his palace he called the representatives of the
neutral nations and handed them Germany's peace proposal. The
same day Germany sent to every part of the globe through her
wireless stations Germany's note to the Allied and the Chancellor's
uddress.
Germany's Peace Offer Surprised the World
The world was astonished and surprised at the German move,
but no one knew whether it was to be taken seriously. Great
Britain instructed her embassies and legations in neutral countries
to attempt to find out whether the Chancellor really desired to
make peace or whether his statements were to be interpreted as
something to quiet internal troubles.
During the days of discussion which followed I was in close
touch with, the Foreign Office, the American embassy and the Gen
eral Staff. The first intimation I received that Germany did not
expect the peace plan to succeed was on December 14 at a meeting
of the neutral correspondents with Lieutenant Colonel von Haeften
When Von Hindenburg became chief of the General Staff he reor
ganized the press department in Berlin and -sent Von Haeften from
his personal staff to Berlin to direct the press propaganda. As a
student of public opinion abroad Von Haeften was a genius and
was extremely iranK ana honest with the correspondents.
"We have proposed jieaco to our enemies," he said to the
correspondents, "because we feel that we have been victorious
and because we believe that no matter how long the war con
tinues the Allies will not be able to defeat us. It will be inter
esting to see what effect our proposal has upon Russia. Reports
which we have received, coming from unquestionable sources,
, state that internal conditions in Russia arc desperate; that
food is scarce; that the transportation system is so demoralized
that it will be at least eight months before Russia can do
anything in a military way. Russia wants peace and needs
peace, and we shall see now whether she has enough influence
upon England to compel England to make peace. We are pre
pared to go on with the war if the Allies refuse our pro
posals. If we do we shall. not give an inch without making the
Allies pay such a dear cost that they will net be able to
continue."
The Foreign Office was not optimistic over the possibilities of
success. Officials realized that the new Lloyd George Cabinet
meant a stronger war policy by Great Britain, but they thought
the peace proposals might shake the British confidence in the
new Government and cause the overthrow of Lloyd George and
the return of Asquith and Viscount Edward Grey.
(CONTINUED TOMOHnOW)
FRIENDS OF MAGISTRATE CARL B. BAKER TENDER HIM' TETlNT.r:7Z nu
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