The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-21

l The German comments, though
 made on summaries of Lloyd George speech, have occasioned surprise, as
 they do not exhibit the defiant tone
 which was anticipated. There is some
 disposition to credit reports coming
 from America that the central powers
 may after all formulate proposals
 which might form the basis of a | peace discussion.
 Entente Stands Firm.
 But that there is no possibility that
 the entente will recede from or mod
 fly its demand for complete restitu- . tion, full reparation and effectual guarantees; and that unless the central powers no negotiations can
 be entered upon is the belief here. These would involve German evac-
 uation of occupied territory, and this
 is expected to be made plain in the
 replies of the entente powers to Von
 -Hollweg's feeler. But the
 feling is quite as firm that dealings
 with Germanys present Chancellor
 or rulers is out of the question, and
 that the first glimmer of peace will
 appear when the liberalization of the
 German government has been under
 taken.
 The House of Commons gave an in-
 dication of it's frame of mind yester- day when it passed a resolution au- thoriZd by the government, that an additional number of land forces not exceeding one million shall be main-
 tained at home and abroad" This was partly to regularize the present situation, the colonial troops and of ho
 ceeding the four million already au- thorized.
 The Manchester Guardian, com menting on Lloyd Georges speech. says that the Premier "has not shut the door on peace with that resound- ing clang for which some of his less balanced supporters in the press have been listening. It is true he insisted ion the impossibility of accepting the 1 German invitation as it stands. In this he was ably seconded by MT. As- quith and will be approved by the country. The German Chancellor must be both more modest and more explicit before he can expect any 1 favorable answer to his invitation.'
 A Snare Avoided.
 sBut the real danger in the situa- ton which his offer created was that the allies, this country in particular, might be led into an abrupt antl sweeping refusal, not merely of the actual invitation, but of any proposal i to discuss peace terms. This snare 1 Lloyd George has avoided"
 l The Guardian says that as the speech invited Germany to be more explicit, i've do not, then, cast out ] fhn tral world cannot take exception to ! this attitude The Guardian notes that the speech contained no hint of 1 the crushing of Germany. : 1 In the truest form, this paper ob- serves, .reparation is impossible, for the deepest wrongs cannot be undone. But it adds: Security we certainly require. The best security is the firm, unbrolsen front of the alliance, forti- fled when the war ends by universal league to enforce peace. In such a. league America would play great part, and her presence alone would be no small security" NH The Guardian thinks that the Ger- man Chancellor will find in the pro- lposals of the Entente a basis for dis cission,f and remarks. There is in this country, as in all countries at war, a. great volume of opinion, too little vocal unfortunately in favor of a serious effect on the part of Eu7 ropes statesmen to put an end to the 7 carnage which is destroying the whole generation of the young ] a Calls for Exact Terms
 eff Germany follows up her first Invitation with a statement of terms it will not do to reject it, because we have not dared to come to grips with i the question of terms ourselves comments the Daily News. tWe hope there will be no delay on the part of the allies in arriving at the precise terms on which they will be willing to negotiate. At present we have only generalities."
 the Morning Post applaud the new government for it's vigorous tone. | tFor the first time since the out break of the war; says the latter paper, cit is evident that the govern ment of this country has a mind of l it's own." The Times says that ''the broad programme laid down for the prosecution of the war is a great event | in the history of the empire and of mankind"
 ] The solidarity between the Entente powers in their reception of the Ger I man note has given profound satis- faction here, and the German chagr1n at Russia's action in taking the lead | in rejecting their overtures seems | obvious to Britishers. It is regarded as certain that Germany was misled T about the Russian feeling and had assurances that the peace suggestions would be hailed with relief in Petro- grad. l Lloyd George has the country sol l idly behind him even in his plan for 1 the adoption of the principle of uni- versa1 compulsory service, which was one of the dramatic surprises of his speech.
 The idea of the mobilization of the manhood of the country for war pur- poses, somewhat on the plan of the German mass levy, has caught the 1 imagination of the country, although some fear that hostility in the rank and file of organized labor may make 1 it's realization difficult. It is under stood that some of the labor repre- sentatives in the Cabinet have given l their tentative approval. [ 1 The task allotted to Neville Cham- l berlain, who has been appointed Di- rector General of National Service, of scheduling certain industries as in- dispensable and supplying them with | the necessary labor and material, and