GERMANY WANTS PEACE.

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13269, 26 August 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

GERMANY WANTS PEACE.

I 3 Germany hoisting the Sign of the Smoking Flax or the Bruised Reed? She is certainly talking of peace while vociferating war. Here is the testimony of a remarkable envoy just returned from Germany. "Colonel House, Dr Wilson's confidential diplomatic envoy, breakfasted with the President on March 6, and laid before him the results of his observations in Europe. "There is reason to believe that the main purpose of Colonel House's mission was to test the peace sentiment, but that he quickly ascertained that there was no possibility of peace negotiations being in itiated at tins time because of German madness. "Colonel House is reported to have used the word 'madman' in describing the Germans. He is understood to have satis ficd Himself that the Germans want peace, but on such impossible terras that the\ cannot be considered, and that the onlj cure for the madness which has seizea Germanv is further blood-latting." Significant, too, are the curious state meuts by Major Moraht, the militarj critic in the "Berliner Tageblatt." The "Telegraph's" Amsterdam correspondent says that this "is one of th< most significant pieces of writing thai have appeared in the German press for i very long time," and it is apropos of the Verdim struggle. Major Moraht makes these notablestatements : . "If the whole of Germany looks with cride on its battle-tired warriors, their power of holding out and their courage, and will never forget its living or dead ! heroes, at the same time we must recognise fully the bravery of the enemy.- In numerous counter-attacks they struggled to free themselves from our iron gripThey stood up against leaden destruction from our terrible batteries. A generatioi of warriors sinks into its grave before Verdun, or drags its way home in a muti lated condition. "That is what makes one shiver u: watching this shedding of blood by two nations who, hand in hand, could dominate the world, and could raise its culture tc unknown heights. Instead, they are tear ing themselves to pieces, and whilst thev do so we remember that in neithei | country were there compelling motives tc fall upon each other. "As in Germany we do not allow our selves to be accused, as people of judg ment, of having brought on this war, 8< in honour we must not blame the people of France of having had such an intention \ few thousands were the originators ol

"I have often heard from the mouths of our young soldiers taking part in this bloodv struggle with the French how they wish 'nothing more intensely than that the bad words 'hereditary enemy should disappear in the coming peace. "That last sentence" (says the Westminster Gazette") "is worth rather careful examination. , "Now, we were told last week that the 'bad words' actually appeared in the farst draft of one of the Emperor s excited ines saces from Verdun, but were expunged in the later versions of the same message. which substituted 'most important enemy for 'hereditary enemy.' Major Moraht is no doubt referring to this incident am, we mav take it that he has official sanction behind him in expressing these softer sentiments towards the French. '•lt would ill become us to quench any smoking flax," adds the ''Anvthing which indicated that the German'people were beginning to realise he full horror of the crime committed bv the •few thousands' against a gallant neiglv boar who had given them no offence »ould be to the good. Nothing but a great spiritual and moral revulsion against the horrors and barbarities of this war gong to bring us aJasting peace when fs over. But except in this one article we have no sign as yet of anv such proems in the mind of our principal enemj. Tl,o "Frankfurter Zeitung writes of a relucunt Germany compelled to continue Zvlr by enemies whose "reeponsi .dry fcK the streams of blood and the destruction of property which a continuation of the war demands" wiU some day be condemned by history. ..TWnino -The Socialists," says the Morning Post "are strictly forbidden to say 01 to'write anything about a peace on tht basis of an understanding, while Nationalist" newspapers aie permitted by the au- . tnorities to' reiterate the staten.cntfe the world will be compelled by German} : to accept peace from the pomt ol her

SNV "'fhe subject is discussed at great leno-tli in the Munich "Xeueste Naclnich ten bv Professor Karl Binding, an eminent German authority on Constituuonai Binding contends that in order to eliminate the possibility cf bei many having to submit to a congress such as the famous one at \ lenna, hng • ~ peace plans must be frustrated Wlth a possible energy. England's w.tehwtrf, he savs, is 'No separate peace , Get many's, consequently, must be Onlj. separate peace.' Germany has the si j in her hand, the Professor states, and she can sav to each of the small countries that she has defeated by force of aims 'Make peace, or we no longer lccognxe VOU <1- StfttC. . t) . " "This does not mean annexation, i lofesso" Binding continues, but memy an announcement that 'as far as we aie concerned the State has ceased to exist. 11 anv one of these smaller States concludes a separate peace with Germany, the rrofcsoi writes, that peace is as incontestable in International Law as it our adversaries' has not agreed that no such separate peace should be concluded 11

the smaller States cannot be induced to conclude a separate peace, adds the lonian luminary, 'ihc number of our adversaries is 'reduced,' and 'it is we and not their Allies who v.ill then decide the late ot their territory and their inhabitants. "Professor Binding proclaims the facts that- 'we, the greatest, power for peace in Europe,' were treacherouslv forced into the war, and that it is not a sign of weakness, but 'our vocation,' when 'we announce to the whole world that we want peace as soon as an honouiable pence is attainable.' "He considers, therefore, that in puisuance of this policy it is Germanv.s duty to invite the countries that are 'ripe for peace' —that is to say, whose resistance is completely or almost completely broken—to conclude peace. He considers also that Germany would be entitled to bring pressure to bear on these smaller States, and adds that 'if Germany's efforts fail the rebellious States must not complain further of the fate accorded to them by the Central Powers.' By this means, he asserts, Germany will exert her right to determine in what field and with what weapons the combat for peace shall be waged."