The German Government, having received an invitation to send Peace
delegates to Versailles, said that they would despatch couriers to receive the Allies' terms and take them back to Weimar for examination. The Allies in reply informed Germany that she must send Plenipotentiaries. Germany at once assented, and stated that Count Brockdorff-Rantsau, the Foreign Minister, . would lead the delegation. The only result of this petty quibbling —a bad habit which the Socialists have inherited from the Imperial system—has been to delay the meeting of the Allied and enemy delegates till Thursday next, and to revive the sus- picion with which Germany has been regarded, especially in France. The Germans will not admit until the very last moment that they are in no position to bargain, but must accept the terms which the Allies impose. We admit thatthere are detailson which it will be not only right but desirable to coneult the Germane, for on some matters they can naturally throw more light than any one else. Even Bismarck was careful to consult the French in 1870. But in the largest sense the Peace must be dictated. If the Germans do not recognize that, they will be obstructing the only hand that can save them.
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