The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1918. PAN-GERMAN INSOLENCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 January 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1918. PAN-GERMAN INSOLENCE

The latest speech of the German Chancellor, a summary of which appears in our cable columns, does not bring peace a single step nearer. Indeed, it ostentatiously bangs the door in the face of peace. Count Hertling maintains that the war situation is favourable to the Central Powers, and roundly declares that when the> time for bargaining comes Germany will use Belgium and Northern France as counters to haggle With. With brutal insolence Count Hertlino refers to these territories as "pawns,"' and ho scouts tho very idea of restoring Alsace-Lorraine to Franco. _ Ho makes no reference to reparation— none whatever. One of the crucial tests of the sincerity of Germany's peace talk is her attitude towards Belgium. Is she prepared to withdraw her armies from Belgian soil 1 Hitherto no authoritative answer has been given to this question. It ha-s been studiously evaded. Now tho world is bluntly told that Germany has no intention of relinquishing her grip 011 Belgium as a preliminary to a discussion of peace terms. The Belgian .question, says Count Hertlino,' must be dealt with as part of the general negotiations. The most ardent pacifist could hardly suggest that the Allies should accept such a condition as this. It would be a,n outrage against justice. It would invite tho peril and humiliation of a Pan-German peace. Count Hertling's statements regarding Belgium and Alsace-Lor-raine show very clearly that PanGerman influences are still in the ascendant at Berlin, and it is quite evident that it would be madness for tho Ailies to aliow Germany's diplomatic offensive to divert their energies by a hair's breadth from tho supreme task of winning tho war. Count Hertling's reference to disarmament and the establishment of a league of nations does not merit serious attention at the present juncture, and his suggestion that Britain shou.'cl abandon Gibraltar, Aden, and Malta is as childish as It is impertinent. Count Hertlino makes no declaration of Germany's war aims. The German Government has so far refused to state definitely the objects for which the Central Powers aro Oghting. It would be interesting to know what view the Kaiser and his advisers take of the professed anxiety of the Austrian Foreign Minister to bring the war to an end. The utter war-weariness of Austria, the industrial chaos that prevails, and the indications that the Army is becoming more and more demoralised have provided the authorities at Berlin with food for very serious thought, and the fact (hat German mobs are riotously demanding peace is adding to their uneasiness. A comparison of tho speeches of Count Hertlikg and Count Czernin indicates a lack of concord between Austria and Germany, but it is impossible at present to say how wide and deep the gulf is. The Austrian Minister gives expression to a much more urgent desire for'pmc than the German Chancellor. He declares that Austria docs not intend to demand a single square metre of Russian territory or a single centime of indemnity. But what about Germany? Is Germany prepared to adopt a similar attitude'! If not, will Austria continue the war in order to enable her more aggressive ally to seize huge slices of Russia and to convert Poland and Coitrland into Germanised vassal States ? If the Russian negotiations shou'r) be broken off because Germany is waging a war of conquest, the pos- ' nihility of a revolution in AustriaHungary is by no means remote. A message 'from Washington definitely states that Austria isjnaking overtures to the United States with a view to peace, but it is explained that these overtures should be regarded as merely an academic feeler. It would be easy to overestimate tho importance of this

latest move; but, taken in conjunction, with the far-reaching internal troubles 'of the Dual Monarchy, it is not without significance. Is Austria preparing to disassociate herself from Germany and make a separate peace'] Or has the feeler been thrown out for the purpose of gaining time and allaying popular excitement? It is reasonable to assume, until we have proof to the contrary, that in approaching the American Government the Austrian authorities arc acting with the knowledge and consent of Germany. If this should be the case, the uncompromising tone of Count HertLinq - 's speech need not bo taken too seriously. It is probably intended to be part of that "psychological process" upon which the Junkers place much reliance. The German GovcrnmDiit no doubt feels that it is necsssary to make a bold show at the present critical moment in order to counteract the impression made fit home and abroad by the weakening of Austria's fighting spirit. The revolutionary ideas which brought a.boufc the coilap.se of the Russian autocracy are said to be infecting the Austro-Himgarian Army [and to bo spreading rapidly among tho industrial population. Judging by present indications the Austrian Government will soon have to faco tho alternative of peace or revolution. But past experience proves that the Allies cannot afford to lot victory depend upon possibilities of this sortt. Any reasonable and definite peace proposals tho Central Pf.tvcrs may see fit to make will •"receive the consideration they deserve, but the Allies must be continually on their guard against allowing Germany to win by intrigue when she finds that she is unable to win by force of arms.