It is even astonishing that we should find
them in a position to be able to dictate terms of peace to the
Hohenzollerns."
"You do not dispute the authenticity of the document?" Julian
asked.
"I will not go so far as that," Mr. Stenson replied cautiously.
"Our secret service informed us some time ago that Freistner, the
head of the German Socialists, was in communication with certain
people in this country. I have no doubt whatever that these are
the proposals of the authorised Socialist Party of Germany. What
I do not understand is how they have suddenly acquired the
strength to induce proposals of peace such as these."
"It has been suggested," Julian said, "that even the
Hohenzollerns, even the military clique of Germany, see before
them now the impossibility of reaping the rewards of their
successful campaigns. Peace is becoming a necessity to them.
They would prefer, therefore, to seem to yield to the demands of
their own Socialists rather than to foreign pressure."
"That may be so," Mr. Stenson admitted. "Let us proceed. The
first part of your duty, Orden, is finished. What else have you
to say?"
"I am instructed," Julian announced, "to appeal to you to sue at
once, through the Spanish Ambassador, for an armistice while these
terms are considered and arrangements made for discussing them."
"And if I refuse?"
"I will not evade even that question. Of the twenty-three members
of the new Council of Labour, twenty represent the Trades Unions
of the great industries of the kingdom.
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