THE REICHSTAG

The immediate reply of the Central Powers to
President Wilson's note (Dec., 1916) has been a
polite refusal to indicate, beyond some
generalities open to the blame of ambiguity, in a
clear way what their demands of peace would be. It
has been followed by their note to the neutrals of
the 11th of January, which also avoids giving a
distinct delineation of their demands. The Central
Powers maintain that only a peace conference of
the belligerents themselves would be the proper
place to bring forth the respective peace
conditions, and they state they would produce
theirs when once the conference has met. Putting
aside every insinuation of motives one cannot help
being reminded by this of the attitude of the
Central Powers during the fateful twelve days of
July-August, 1914, when they refused any outside
mediation and insisted on direct conversations
between Russia and Austria, whilst the punitive
military expedition of the latter against Servia
had to take its course. In so far their suggestion
would not augur well for the execution.

The Entente Allies, on their side, have been
somewhat more explicit. Their answer to President
Wilson includes the delineation of demands that
certainly are open to criticism, but just for this
call for a reply or even compel it. At the time
these lines are written only newspaper comments
have so far come forward, and it is not necessary
to dwell upon these. Nor does it seem appropriate
to anticipate the reply of the Chancellor, which
in some form or other will surely be given in the
course of the next weeks. What matters is that
there is a programme given for discussion and we
are able to scrutinise its nature and bearing.

The demands explicitly or implicitly contained in
the note of the Allies can be summarised under
five heads, viz.:

1. Restitution of occupied territory to its former
political community,

2. Reparation for inflicted material and moral
wrongs,

3. Territorial changes motivated by alleged

a. rights of nationality,

b. need for freeing suppressed or protecting
consistently maltreated nationalities,

4. Reform of International Law,

5. National