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Show KAISER'S PEACE TRICKJGflED PROFFER MADE THROUGH ANY BUT, RESPONSIBLE SOURCES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. There Will Be No Letup in War or Our Preparations for War Until German Government Holds Up Its Hands. , Washington. "If Germany wants peace, let a responsible German government gov-ernment hold up its hands and say so. There will be no let-up in the war or in our preparation for war." That is the way official and diplomatic diplo-matic Washington greets the renewal of the German diplomatic campaign. It was the view taken by two new developments in the peace situation. They were : Amsterdam reports that the kaiser has devolved upon Chancellor von Hertling the right to make peace, and Indications from the state department depart-ment that no peace proposals can be even considered until they are presented present-ed in a formal and responsible manner. man-ner. The suggestion that the kaiser has delegated the pence-making power is viewed as "camouflage." It is recalled re-called that a similar step was taken a year ago. At that time, just after President Wilson had mnde his offer of mediation, media-tion, the kaiser published a letter m Bethmann - Hollweg, then German chancellor, authorizing him to enter into peace negotiations. "It will require a complete change in the German constitution," said one allied diplomat here Sunday, "to make a peace offer considered." The kaiser could say to Von Hertling, 'I used you to make peace.' It would amount to nothing. It would merely mean that 'divine' powers of Wilhelm had passed on to his agent. "If, on the other hand, he were to abdicate completely his rights in favor of the chancellor, acting on the consent con-sent of the reichstag well, that would be a complete change in the German constitution and it might lend to consideration. con-sideration. It would mean that the kaiser had recognized the source of all authority in Germany was not from himself and from God, but from the German people. Upon that proposition proposi-tion only will the allies consider an offer." |