The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1943. PEACE PROSPECTS.

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1943. PEACE PROSPECTS.

A New Zealander who has returned home from a German prison camp states that there are German soldiers who expect peace early next year. He also repeats the earlier statement of other prisoners repatriated from Germany that the disposition in that country is to prefer that Allied troops of occupation should be British and American rather than Russian, suggesting that on this account opposition to a western might now be decidedly less than to an eastern invasion of Germany. Such a view would appear to represent, not the attitude of the. Prussian High Command, but the average German, and the reason for it, as remarked by the New Zealand ex-prison-er, is doubtless a remembrance of the atrocious .treatment .to which Russians have been subjected at the behest of the heads of the German Army. Yet there is no reason to think that retaliation or reprisal figures in Russian military policy as it has done in German military policy. It is certain that the sword, while it can impose terms of peace, cannot breed peace. The influences which are to renew amity among peoples must spring from the hearts of men. In the case of the Balkans, where an Allied offensive is expected, there are satellites of the Axis, who were unwillingly forced to engage in war, and whose wish now is for peace. The Allies are hoping Turkey may persuade Bulgaria to quit the Axis, while Hungary and Roumania are ready for this at the first opportunity. The desire for peace is now probably more widespread than ever, and is a good reason for hoping that the end of the war is nearer than might appear merely from military activity. It is the German conception of warfare which yet lias, to 'be negatived effectively, , That conception is complete dictatorship over the masses, and a I highly advanced state of military

preparation before the attack is begun. If the Berlin laditf whines to-day about bombing, it is because the weakness of the Prussian philosophy has l>en made manifest. That weakness is a complete disregard for human values and for civilised modes of action. The Allies now are able, if they wished, to do what the Germans set out to do, and that is to bomb indiscriminately and as a reprisal. But that is not the Allied intention. Features of total ivar which the enemy instituted have had to be adopted, such as State control of life, blockading, and bombing. But because the Germans began the bombing of civilians, the Allies do not by way simply of retaliation do the same. It has been authentically declared on the part of the Allies that they are not engaged in a war of reprisals. There is total war on the Allies’ part, but those who gloat over enemy suffering do not exemplify the Allied conception of total war. On the Allies’ part the saving of life has been proclaimed an objective. War is cruel, but it need not be barbarous. It is to defeat the enemy, and impose peace terms, no 1 ! to slaughter civilians, that the Allied air offensive is being conducted. The spirit of reprisal would be a harrier after the war to a true restoration of peace. The German leaders have hinted that they ask no Christmas armistice, ’but it is any odds that they would greatly welcome one, not for altruistic, but merely for military reasons. Therefore, an armistice would be possibly a mistake for the Allies. Nevertheless, as events are going for them more and more favourably, it is always to be borne in mind that when victory docs come, peace cannot be fostered by the sword, but only by a renewal of humane feeling on all sides.