The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1915. BOGUS PROPOSALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 16 December 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1915. BOGUS PROPOSALS.

it is reassuring to find that in none of the Allied countries of the EnfLente. and in few even of those of the neutrals, are the German socalled “peace proposals” received with, other than scornful contempt. The snare, laid was so openly in sight and the change of. front so utterly opposed to German designs that its falsehood was at once apparent. Why should Britain, France and Russia. ever discuss terms of peace at all with the lying, treaty-breaking Government of Germany? There is plenty of historic, precedent for the overcoming of tyrants and then ignoring them altogether in the settlement. When final victory over

Germanism cbmos to our anus, it ought; to lu’ hut for us to impose terms to which the broken warmaker's will have to submit. That is the only ending to this war whieli will be the right one lor humanit\. If jieace were concluded at this time, even upton very diltereiit terms to the bombastic nonsense which we arc told is a of “what GernuuiN would like, not what she expects to get,” it would he but the postponement of the Hun effort to gain world-mastery. Only a little while ago Vice-Admiral Kirchuolf wrote;— “Germany’s requirements come to this: she must stick to the position she has won at the south-west entrance to Hie North Sea, in order to hold England in check from the Continent, and must also acquire the Suez Canal.” Again: “After the war Germany must see to it that the command of the eastern Mediteiianean is secured to her and her Allies

by ilitJ creation of a new fleet, by tin*, acquisition of naval stations and wireless stations. Raw, materials could then be safely imported by way of the Adriatic and the Aegean.”, Similarly, Count Roventlow writes in the “Kreuz-Zeitung” of January' 10, of “a kind of naval balance of power.” This is what Germany means by the “freedom of the seas.” The Dean of Newcastle the other day described this as a perfectly lucid plan. One can well believe that if Germany could, carry it out, it would contribute to the peace of mind of all the Germans engaged in or dependent upon, overseas traffic. But* it is plain that, except in so far as reliance can be placed on mutual goodwill, Germany’s security in the jnat-j ter of her sea-borne trade must by a mathematical necessity be England’s insecurity as to her existence. If the present mouthings from the Ger*man Chancellor have any value at all it is the plain admission of German failure and the warranty thus given of ultimate triumph for the Allies and the cause of world-freedom, if only the nations now banded to maintain the right, will relentlessly perservere to the bitter end.