The Dominion. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1916. PEACE INTRIGUES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2685, 3 February 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1916. PEACE INTRIGUES

4— Britain's resolute refusal to listen to peacc talk seems to bo shaking the nerves of Germany. In the Reichstag recently Hunit Scheidejiann appealed to the Chancellor to the "saving word" which might bring the war to an end. The Chancellor was also asked straight out why Germany did not offer peace. In his reply he,staled that it was astonishing that the enemy could not sec that their game'was up; but he was compelled to admit that none of Germany's enemies had made peace overtures. On that occasion he endeavoured to place the responsibility for the continuance of the conflict on the obstinacy of the Allies.: now he declares that Britain is tne only, obstacle to peace. He

wants to make tho world believe that our Allies arc willing to open negotiations for a settlement, but that Britain is forcing them to fight on to tho end. What is tho reason for this German lie? The British Foreign Office asserts that tho Chancellor s purpose is to injure Britain in the eyes of neutral nations. His idea seems to be to create the impression that Britain is deliberately prolonging a hopeless struggle in order to sorve her own ends and to secure •special advantages for herself. Germany evidently wants to place Bri.tain in a false position, and to caiise as much friction as possible regarding the blockade. She hopes in this way to get some relief from the grip which the British Navy has upon her throat. She wants to make neutrals feel that Britain is obstinate and unreasonable, and that because of this obstinacy and unreasonableness they are suf/:ring needless inconvenience and loss. But no doubt the main object of these German-inspired peace rumours is to find some weak link in the chain which holds the Allies together. ' She has one set of falsehoods for neutrals and another for the Entente Powers. She is telling our Allies that we are not to be trusted; that we will betray them and safeguard our own interests by means of a separate bargain. From the beginning of tho war she has been industriously sowing seeds of dissension, but they have shown no signs of fructification. To-day the Entente Powers stand more firmly together than they did when the war commenced. The Wood and treasure which they have sacrificed for the achievement of their common aim— the frustration of Germany's great grab for world dominion—have increased their trust in one another and strengthened their bonds of union. Their friendship is too strong_ to be shaken by the vile insinuations of the arch-slanderer. A few months ago Germany was hinting that Italy was playing a game of her own,_ and that she might desert her friends at a critical moment; but a speech by the Italian Minister for Justice (Signor Orlando) was a crushing reply to this poisonous suggestion. Ho accepted without any reservation or qualification the formula, "All for one and one for all." He said no sensible person would ever believe that there would be any good in an isolated victory for Italy, that is to say, apart and independent of the victory of her Allies, and just as there could be no isolated victory there could be no isolated peace. Germany has tried to sever Russia from the Entente, and has failed; she has endeavoured to persuade France to give up the struggle, and has met with a contemptuous rebuff; she has hinted to Britain that the role of betrayer would prove profitable, and the tightening of the blockade has been Britain's answer. Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Japan have solemnly pledged themselves to act in concert until the war is over and the . terms of peace are finally settled.

The German Chanocllor states that there have been unofficial conversations in Switzerland and Sweden with reference to the possibility of bringing the war to a close, but ho admits that there have been no official overtures. It is quite certain that these "conversations" will not bo allowed- to divert the Entente Powers from their determination to dictate their own terms after they have achieved victory. For some time past Sweden has been a hot-bed of pro-German peace intrigue. A correspondent of the New York Post in a rccent letter from Stockholm states that "poworful interests are trying to make Sweden the intervener, and to make Stockholm the city where peace shall be signed." Germany's declaration that she is willing to discuss peace is interpreted by Sweden's Foreign Office to mean that she is ready to negotiate on the basis of the present military situation, and to bargain with her conquests ]ii ordel' to secure indemnities and colonies'. The fact that representatives of Austria, Germany, and Russia recently met in Stockholm to discuss matters relating to the treatment and exchange of prisoners seems to have given rise to all sorts of wild rumours and It is a significant fact that it is the pro-German Press wiich is mainly responsible for the eyort to create a peace atmosphere. These newspapers are trying to make tho people believe that the dislocation of ; Sweden's trade is due .to Britain's uncompromising attitude. They are constantly affirming that Germany _is ready to listen to reason, while Britain persists in continuing the struggle quite heedless of the loss and inconvenience which she is causing to the industries and commerce of neutral countries. The Foreign Minister, who is friendlv to the Entente, is embarrassed by "the clamour of the pro-Germans who are calling upon the Government to take a firm stand against Britain in regard to the blockade generally, and more especially tho submarine campaign in the Baltic. Some of tho Minister's friends assert that he is inclined to act as peacemaker, as he fears that if the war continues much longer Sweden will be drawn into it. One is naturally very suspicious of a peace campaign so largely supported by people who are doing their best to stir up feelings of ill-will against Britain and her Allies. It is not a genuine movement, it is simply a part of Germany's method of waging war. It should bo regarded as a strategic move made with the_ object of placing the Allies at a_ disadvantage. Germany is fighting with every weapon she possesses. She will talk peace whon it suits her purpose, and she knows how to make use of pacifist meddlers in order to gain her own ends. A careful examination of the origin and growth of the peace movement in Sweden gives an instructive insight into German methods.