As German statesmen never say anything without a motive, it
would be interesting to know why Herr von Ktihlmame was in- structed to confess that the Emperor's " sharp sword " would not bring peace. His object might be to prepare the German public for the failure of this year's campaign to achieve the results expected, if not by the General Staff, at any rate by the. Army. and the ,pertple. The Emperor, again, may be weary of the domination of the military party, and may wish to put new life into the moderate party, whose support might be useful to him in the event of a dynastic revolution. It is oven conceivable that the German Government may hope to impress the Allies by this pretence at moderation. But Herr von Kiihlmann's refusal to make any statement with regard, to Belgium, and his declaration that " the -absolute integrity of the territory of the German Empire and its allies formed a necessary prerequisite condition for entering into any peace discussion or peace negotiations whatever," showed that the road to peace is still blocked. Germany will remain impenitent until she has been decisively defeated in the field.
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