The Dominion MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1918. THE ENEMY'S POLITICAL CAMOUFLAGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 10, 7 October 1918, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1918. THE ENEMY'S POLITICAL CAMOUFLAGE

The political crisis in Germany is a sign that tho Kaiser ,and tho military clique intend to make a fresh attempt to counter-balance their staggering defeats on the battlcfronts by striking an effective diplomatic blow. - It is a fresh manoeuvre to secure by cunning and deceit what they cannot get by force of arms. It is hardly necessary to say that a change in the German Chancellorship does not mean a change in the German heart. Mr. Gerard, who was American Ambassador at Berlin at the time when America entered the war, states that tho new Chancellor, Prince Maximilian of Baden, is "one of 'the few Germans who arc able to behave like an ordinary human being," but this fact, even when combined with the assurance that he "is a cultured man who knows English and is perfectly reasonable," provides an extremely precarious foundation for Mr. Gerard's opinion that the change from Count Hertling to Prince Maximilian indicates that the German Government is thinking of abandoning the Pan-German policy. The most probable interpretation' is that the hoisting into the Chancellorship of a man who "is able to behave like an ordinary human being" is merely a diplomatic ruso for tho purpose of deceiving tho Allies, or of giving the pacifists a straw to clutch at. It is, no doubt,- part of that psychological offensive on which German intellectuals place so much reliance. This "reasonable" . and "cultured" man will be used as a mask behind which the Kaiser and hismilitarist.gang will go on with their plots and plans for cursing tho world with a German peace. The Army leaders are the real rulers of Germany. They make and unmake Ministers. They threw von Kuhlmann out of the Foreign Offico and put von Hintze in' his placcj and it is practically certain that they aro responsible for tho change in the Chancellorship from Count Hertmng to Prince Maximilian. Kefcrring to the blunt dismissal of von Kuhlmann to please the Junkers, the Frankfurter Zcilung _ asks: "Can we blame our enemies for thinking that the Eeichstag is merely.an ornament, and that we are in reality governed according to the ideas of.the 18th century?" . , The Supreme Command holds full "sway in Germany. It controls politics as well as military affairs. Political camouflage is one of its weapons of war. We are told that when the Devil sets out 'to achieve something exceptionally, bigin the.art of temptation ho disguises, himself so cleverly that he would almost deceive the very elect. .Ho knows how to quote Scripture and to' mako himself _ look like an .angel of light. He hides his. horns and his cloven feet, and puts his tail in his pocket. Satan-like,'the Supremo Army 'Command -.is adopting an attractive, disguise in order to make it's temptations more alluring. It thinks that the Allied Governments and people will find it hard to resist-the invitation when'a "cultured man," _who can even "behave like an ■'■ ordinary human being," holds out his- hand " and- says: "Come, let us reason.together." Jut neither the most artful make-iip nor the sua vest tongue can conceal the fact that the new< Chancellor is the puppet of the generals! In announcing, the-'appointment of VON Hintze to-the:Foreign Office, Count Hertling, who was then Chancel-" lor,' stated: "I will .direct the line .of policy. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has merely to i carry out my policy." And whose I policy does the Chancellor carry] ouM_ Count Hertling himself has : provided the answer to this ques- ] tion. In explaining to the Eeichstag the -Government's peace .policy - : lie admitted, that it was formulated' at a conference at 'General Headquarters under tho presidency of. l the'KAiSER. It may safely-.,be takeji' for granted that the Chief Army-! Administration said the decisive word. The generals still dictate the; policy of Germany. Prince Maxi-i milian's appointment is no indication that their power is ■weakening. ! It only means that they want to speak with another voice in'the hope of luring, the Allies from the straight'path that leads to victory, md through victory to a. peace which- will bo enduring because it is just.

If reliance is to be placed on a telegram which has come through the High Commissioner it would appear that Prince Maximilian in-tends-to launch the expected peace offensive without delay. It is unofficially reported that ho has informed "tho Reichstag that the Government has decided to offer an armistice to the Allies. Some manoeuvre of this sort has evidently been started. A Crown Council has just been held in Berlin, at which Hindenburg reported on the military situation with special reference to the clanger of capitulation by Turkey. It is also reported that Holland, at the request of Austria, is sending a Note to the belligerents asking them to express their views as to peace terms. As Me. Balfour has alrcwly stated the Allies will consider any definite and reasonable proposals which the Central Powers may sec fit to make. This does not mean that tho Allies will agree to ccas.o fighting in order to parley. We cannot without dishonour seriously talk with the enemy until he has withdrawn his troops. We must say ' to him: "Get out of Belgium; get out of 'France; get out of Serbia; get out fti Russia—and then we may talk about peace." And when Germany docs get out, as she must sooner or later, the Allies arc not going to haggle^and bartor or to buy the liberty of one country or' people by selling another into slavery. Mb. Lloyd George and President Wilson _ have declared over and over again in tho most emphatic manner that the settlement must be decided solely in accordance with the dictates of impartial justice. ; An armistice is out of the question. Germany and Austria, like Bulgaria, will have to submit to the will of the Allies beforo there can be any cessation of hostilities. The Allied

Governments, know by; experience that they have to deal with a resourceful. njid utterly unscrupulous foe, who would resort to any however false and foul, for the purnose of tricking them out of the legitimate fruits of victory. Every move of. the enemy under the pretext of seeking peace must bo scrutinised with microscopical care. We have a right to assume that his approaches are insincere until their honesty has been proved beyond possibility of doubt. Things arc now developing with startling rapidity while tho world watches and wonders. Never was there greater need for strong, wise, and far-seeing statesmanship. Unless tho Allied Governments are firm, alert, and cautious they may be outwitted, and the enemy after losing tho war may win tho peace. The struggle has' reached a most fateful juncture both from the political and military points of view. Momentous decisions affecting the destiny of tho whole human race may have to bo made within the next few weeks—possibly days. v