ARMISTICE TERMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 6

ARMISTICE TERMS

ARCHBISHOP'S REPLY TO'GERMAN •PEOFESSOK. Tn pence as in war the German, authorities seize any and every means for their propaganda purposes That'is how we understand the telegraphic -message from' Professor Deissmann, of Berlin, through the Archbishop of Upsala, to the Archbishop of Canterbury (says the "Christian World"). It is another plea agSinst the armistice conditions, and vir. tually says. "Let bygones be bygones; let us forget all the past; above all. let the Allies forgo all dependence on iorco for securing an enduring peace, and trust to the "new spirit in Germany. The Archbishop of Canterbury has sent a firm but kindly reply. He cannot accept as correct Professor Dcissmanifs statement of the present situation, as it ignores both the historic origin of the war and the maimer in which Germany has conducted it. He called Professor Peissmann's attention to these essential matters in a letter on September 11. 1915, to which no *eply was sent except a verbal acknowledgment. The Primate prints out that we were forced, unprepared and against our will, into the war by Germany's wrongdoing. AVe have fought without hatred, and as far as possible without passion, and we desire to lie equally , free * from hatred and passion in the course we follow us victors. Hut wo cannot forget Germany's terrible crime against humanity, with its outcome of irreparable agonv aiid cruelty, nor ignore the savagery of the German High Command in. carrying on the war. All these things compel the Allied Powers to take security airiiinst the repetition of such a crime. There is no spirit of mere bitterness m those who impose the armistice terms;, there is no desire to crush or destroy tnc peoples of Germany; but only a wish by the best means .to establish a just ami enduring peace, and in the end to realise the ultimate unity of Christianfellowship, which may have been broken nml impaired, bnt cannot perish. To that end the Archbishop assures Professor Deissmann- his hopes, prayers, and untiring efforts will be give-