The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1917. TEMPTING RUSSIA WITH PEACE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1917. TEMPTING RUSSIA WITH PEACE

However much we may loathe the Germans' methods, we cannot fail to be struck with their capacity for prompt initiative and infinity of resource for securing their aims. Intrigue is their strong point, and they have brought it to a fine art, if not to a perfected science. The latest exhibition of German intrigue was exemplified in yesterday's cable news concerning the rumored offer of a separate peace to Russia. It is noteworthy that the rumor emanated from Berlin, and the insidious nature of the movement is at once apparent. It will be observed that there is a studied vagueness about the message which gives it all the impress of an official "feeler" to catch the notice of the fanatical extremists in Russia. It seems hardly probable that any actual communication has taken place between Berlin and Petrograd on this separate peace project at present, so that it may be, treated as one of Germany's kites that may or may not make good. A moment's consideration should make, the position perfectly plain to all students of events. It appears to be beyond all question that there was a strong proGerman influence at work in the royal and nobility of Russia. The discovery of a wireless plant in the grounds of one of the royal palaces for communication with Berlin emphasised the strength of the undercurrent that tfai at, work to deter Eussia from putting her best efforts to win the war, and apparently justified Germany's faith in a victory over Eussia. It must be remembered that the present war is a struggle for the suppression of autocratic tyranny, and that both the Kaiser and the Czar are typical representatives of autocracy in its worst form. Germany largely based her hopes of success on the secret help of the Russian Court. Both Emperors are well , a,ware that the dominance of democracy would be the death-blow to all that Kaiseri!om and Czardom represented, hence there is i grave reason to suspect the Czar was I playing a double game. It is significant : that from the time that tile first blow , for freedom was struck in Russia, that I German agents have been actively fo- I menting strife among the iajvtfea.! e.v- j »ti who arc now fcirajwtfg the ,

efforts of the new Provisional Government to win the war. It is extremely probable that Germany reckoned on an orgy of bloodshed in Russia ero the revolution was accepted by the army and the people. If so, she made a serious error, for the transition from autocratic to democratic government was marvellously expeditious and singularly free from the blood-letting which usuallylccompanies a revolution. TRe position, then, is that Germany, foiled in her intrigue with Russian Court circles, hopelessly at fault over the nature of the revolution, and determined by hook or by crook to gain her ends as regards eliminating Russia from the list of her active antagonists, lias now decided on another move—to throw out tempting proposals for a separate peace, well knowing it is for that the Russian revolutionary extremists are clamoring. Coincident with the Berlin rumor of this offer of separate peace to Russia, German aeroplanes scattered proclamations (presumably over the Russian lines) stating that the English had dethroned ' the Czar because he was no longer subservient to them. It is not unreasonable to assume there is a direct connection between these two artful actions of the German authorities. If Germany had not absolutely destroyed all possibility of any faith being placed either in her word or her bond, the Provisional Government might have been induced to listen to peace terms, but the Government knows Germany is in desperate straits and ready to promise anything and everything to save her life. The latest news from Petrograd indicates that the worst is over. The Government knows it has to cope with German fcmentors of disorder, but there appears to be a solid consensus of determination to work out the destiny of Russia by first winning the war and then settling down peacefully to place the affairs of the country on a solid foundation, Germany's latest move stands little chance of even a passing thought'