The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1917. GERMAN DIPLOMACY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7524, 6 January 1917, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1917. GERMAN DIPLOMACY.

Is German diplomacy going to score again V \\ o hope not, hut there appears to be a possibility of such a dire contingency. Germany is being hard pushed, though not yet pushed to tao limit. Belgium, Serbia, Poland, and Roumnnia, in her hands, 'she says to neutrals that she is willing to treat for terms of peace. She has not stated her terms, but an inspired ambassador, Count Von Bernstorlf, hinted the terms as being the before-war conditions. The'Allies have scouted—for that is the plain English word to usc-Aho feelers of peace, which were backed by those condition’. Of course the Allies, oliieially, never had those conditions put before them by President Wilson, simply because President Wilson or BernstbrK blundred. Each tried to boat the other in the matter of the peace proposals. If President Wilson wore, the guileless innocent that lie would wish the world to think him, why should he try to beat Oer many’s peace suggestion, -or why should he give one of his own, saving practically that it is not inspired-? Not for a moment do wo think him a fool, but history will write him down cither as an absolute fool or as a diplomatic genius.- ''m own belief is that ho had his nev written -to the belligerents, bating that as it w-aA Christmas- tiino they Height put into concrete terms what each would be willing -..t0 - do, -or take, or keep, in order to the w.ar. Do .made the mistake of (not having sent it before the. sly German Count, whose book wiil’condemn ilia German nation, asked him if ho would kindly pass on Gormanv’s V desire to talk peace proposals to thC'uWles. Chagrin of a bad kind must lie President Wilson’s companion at the' present time if he is a genius ; but should he be a fool, there is no wonder at the suggestion Unit (lie British Ministry is contemplating sending Mr Balfour to be their representative at Washington, not that Balfour could ever be the equal of Bernstorlf in slimness, but ho would he more than his match in candour in the eyes of the citizens of the limited -States. THo suggestion ap peals to us, V and we hope -it it give eli'cct to.

Turkey's statement of independency as a nation is so puerile that one might pass It by were it not for the fact That many of our readers do. pot know what prompted it. The plain truth is that Germany, in her scheme of bargaining for peace, has indicated that big bits of the breast of Turkey jinay bo given away without Turkey’s consent. Turkey has learned Germany’s scheme, and has indicated that she is under no suzerainty, to Germany, but regards herself as a first-class power, and -must, therefore, have a voice in the tennis of peace. We stated in a previous article tha irreducible minimum of the Allies before peace can be nyadc ; confusion of guilt; reparation, in the 'form of restoration of Belgium., the uosth, of France, Serbia, Boland, and Roumania; and guarantees of good faith in the form of France’s getting Alsace and Lorraine, and. 'Russia obtaining Constantinople. A further guarantee for peace is the absolute loss of what wore Germany’s colonies, the bursting up of Heligoland, and the cession of a percentage of Germany’s Imcrcantilo fleet for Germany’s inhumanity in its torpedo-and Zeppelin, war. When these terms are conceded the Allies will talk peace.

• WUBDS UP CHEEK. Speaking at the scnd-olf to the Hastings section of the 2-lth Bciuforcemunts, the lion. Ur McAab made some interesting aud pertinent remarks. They had come, he said, to the point in tliis war that anyone who wanted to be iu at the Jinish must bo sure of getting into the next reinforcements. Germany had called up her last man. even those who had taken part iu the war of 1870, and every man, woman, and child had been assigned wax station. This was the last ’round, England had changed her Go/j.muwnt with the one solitary purpose oi endiug the war. Germany Was ; rymg ior peace, but to consider peace now would mieuu that the present genera tion would hardly have passed when war would break out again, :iml all the blood spilt would have ooeu'spent iu vain. There could be no peace until Germany was driven from the. Allies' territory, and this was going to bo done, during the summer. Ho furring to compulsion, he hoped that no distinction would be drawn between tlie volunteer and the con leapt, when they both got into khaki. Every, one was a soldier of the Umpire, and was entitled to equal respect. “Volun leers,” he said, in conclusion, ‘‘‘l wish you Godspeed, in, the mission on which you arc going. [ am confident you aip going to be in at tho finish--a finish that will end tho German power in deed as well as in word. Jt will be a new world that you will live in after this war, and I hope that all soldiers will take a more active interest iu the affairs of their country- than they have done in (he past. It is unnecessary for mo to urge upon you the necessity for giving implicit obedience to the commands of your officers. You must absolutely give up all personal Indivjduallity. I have no faith in the man who consi-

dors lie is degrading himself by becoming subordinate to another r man. Aiauy of the men who arc your ollieers to-day. may be your servants tomorrow. iThis is one of the glories ol democracy, and one of the things wo are trying to accomplish.”