The New York Times/1918/11/11/German Newspapers Still Rail at America
GERMAN NEWSPAPERS STILL RAIL AT AMERICA
Rhenish Gazette Doubts Wilson's Sincerity and Thinks We Strive for Power.
Copyright, 1918, by The New York Times Company.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
THE HAGUE, Nov. 9.—Commenting on the American election, the Rhenish Gazette says:
"Doubtless there are many pacifists at work today in America, who also support Wilson's League. These are mostly to be found among Democrats; but it is a mistake to believe that all Democrats want peace. The Democrats pursue imperialism under the banner of the protection of small nations and freedom of nations and of the seas, and these ideas are propagated by means of beautiful phrases, which, however, are nevertheless filled with true American strivings for power and force. All the same, it must be admitted that the ideas for a prace of justice and conciliation are more prevalent among the Democrats than the Republicans."
The paper alleges that Roosevelt, Taft and Lodge are the champions of peace by force and want to destroy Germany, and it points out that President Wilson's election message to the people was an appeal to the self-love and vanity of Americans and was an effort to take the wind out of the Republican's sails.
"As Wilson was elected peace President," says the paper, "he must appear as a positive factor in ending the war, and the league is thereby a means to an end. On the other hand, if he wishes to down the Republicans and assure his party victory in Congress, which at present is dubious, then he is forced to make imperialistic chauvinistic concessions.
"All this, however, is incidental for the Germans, and the main question is whether Wilson is an honest peace-bringer, as his admirers believe, or whether he is a disguised imperialist under the mask of pacifism, only desiring Germany's destruction. Only the armistice conditions will show whether Wilson is striving for a just peace or whether he is the slave and spokesman for Lloyd George and Clemenceau. It is possible that delay in the publication of the armistice conditions is connected with the American elections, and only when the results are known will it be clear which way the pendulum swings."
It is evident that the Germans are still banking on discussion among the Allies as to peace conditions and feeling for a weak spot in the allied armament, although, as one paper explains, it is difficult to tell whether these differences can be used for the advantage of the German Empire and whether Wilson's influence on the Allies is not exaggerated.
Judging by quotations from the Tageblatt, the majority party is now clinging to President Wilson as the only peace apostle left in the world, which is somewhat incongruous with the many insults heaped on the President's head in this respect.