PEACE TERMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 308, 17 September 1918, Page 7

PEACE TERMS

GERMANY'S DELUSIVE OFFER FINAL TRIUMPH COMING "Germany's latest peace oiler still shows the cloven lwof," said tho Hon. T. M. AVilford last night. "The rulers of Germany must for their own safety preserve among their people tho delusion that, Genially was the attacked, and not the attacker, in this war. The making ot' any offer except, that based on victory would mean the a\vakoning of the German people and the end of the Hohenzolleni and the Hapsburg, and the end of military rule. Just as the war party began the war with tho legend !thafc thov were attacked so they must, if possible, remain masked to tho end. "There would he a speedjr poaco on our terms if Germany as a whole understood, but she does not, When the war broko out, -tho - iron curtain ol censorship descended and enclosed the Central Empires. The steel logic-of necessity leaves tho junkers no option but to fight on, hoping that our civilians Will waiver in their determination to stand firm and resolute. A peace based on a lie will never stand. An admission of the truth would end junker rule. Any peace offered by Germany must guard agamsi the great awakening. "Tha latest terms offered by the Central Powers are made for refusal in order to. keep the Germans fighting in tho liope of something—they know not what.' If an offer, of peace was based upon an admission of the rcql stafco of things tho Central Powers, would need to admit lying, deceit, and wilful perversion of facts, and would bo torn to pieces by the mob. Tliey know that. The offer is therefore made- ill the form published, not to save tho 'cannon fodder' of Germany, but to save a section of Germany, namely, tho military class, at the expense ol tho rest of Gormany. _ , ■ "Self-preservation 'is still the first law of nature. Official statements ami fictions at present stand in the v/ay of 'peace negotiations, but there will come a.'day. Changing Chaiiceilors does. not change systems. This the AVar lords think we uo not see. Even if Herr Sclicidemann, the menial of BethmanHollweg, wore to offer terms the system would bp the same. Germany irvusfc got away from the idea that fug is the -victor because we have not yet conquered her. Any admission . that Gerinany was losing made to--tho German peoplo would mean tne foil o) the Kaiser and his hordo from tho 1 igli estate. They aro simply powerless to make any such admission. "In conclusion, let. there te no talk of peace iparley now that Victory beckons to Valour across the wastes of war. After that victory the Grand Ensign ol' Liberty will; lly onco. more over "a world at peace. The braggarts of Berlin have had their day, rnd they It(ioiv their end is fast approaching; and while the ramparts of freedom havo heen proved to bo impregnable only a people's peaco can recompense _ the agony, of war. No easy vict-ory is m store for us;-tho final triumph will bo dearlv purchased with the blood ol our bravest and best, with the tears of our women, and with many_ precious drafts upon the Bank of Life. .'lnc. dog-like subservience of the Hitn is showing signs of doubt. If it changes, the Central Powers will cry for peace at anv price. Let peacfi when it conies he founded 011 1 truth, not falsehood, and it.mav then be found that there is one thing that has heen conqubred in this world war—and that is war itself."