New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-13
Proposal Shows Change

Germ no reason Tor the rejection of the
terms.
Proposal Shows Change
+ "The German peace proposals. said
Hamilton Holt. editor of "The indie
pendent" certainly indicate one thing
that great change has come over
Germany. Six months ago Germany
would not listen to suggestions from
some Of her own people that she make
move for peace. Then Germany de-
clared she wanted military decision.
But she has evidently come to realize
that she is not the only god on earth.
"Of course" continued Mr. Holt,
these peace proposals may be purely
political move intended for home con-
sumption sort of diplomatic bluff
The test will come when she will be
asked TO give guarantees for the future
peace Of the earth. That is what the
Allies are fighting for. If she doesn't,
then it is for the Allies to fight all
the harder.
"If she does give these guarantees
then all other questions will become
is insincere because of the proposals
she has made. A man selling a house
always asks a higher price than he
expects to get.
"The future will determine If Ger
many is sincere or whether she is play
ing a political role with the sole view
of trying TO put the Allies in a diff
cult position II she is sincere in her
desire for peace. it means she has come
TO a realization that reason after all
canno, | e dispensed with, and that
force Is not the way to settle differ
ences among civilized nations"
In French and British circles in this
city the Teutonic peace overtures were
scoffed at as insincere and character
lied as a bid for the sympathy OF
neutral nations.
"Germany's latest proposal for peace
will not receive a moments serious
consideration by any Of the Entente
Allies"
This was the comment made by
Stephane Lausanne. editor-in-chief of
the Paris "Matin." when interviewed
last night in the Hotel Vanderbilt.
"The Allies would reply TO the Ger
man peace offers with silence # they
could" he continued. But, out Of
courtesy TO the neutral powers who
will present the German peace terms.
the Allied governments will. OF
course. have TO answer. Then we shall
be entertained by an interesting stu
ration.
what will the people Of Germany
think and what will they say when
they find that an official peace offer
by Germany has been turned down
fat? The German people want peace
now, and want it badly.
Want Germany Punished
ave. the Allies, are not fighting for
territorial conquest or political doml-
nation, but for two ideas. First, we
now have a Europe dominated by Ger
man brutality and bestiality, and we
must crush out those qualities; second,
this war was declared, desired and pre-
pared by Germany, and we must punish
Germany for her crimes against hu-
manity.
"The Allies will break through the
Western front next spring. We will at
that time have piled up ammunition
enough, and the British army will then
be ready"
Maurice Leon issued a statement yes
terday on the German peace proposals.
saying that they really meant nothing
tangible. He doubted that promise OF
complete restoration of Belgium. He
said that not only would Germany have
TO pay for devastating Northern France.
but would also have TO restore Alsace-
Lorraine. He discounted the restora-
ton Of Poland and Lithuania as ruses
to increase the German armies. As for
the retention Of Serbia by Austria
Hungary. he said:
Nothing reveals more clearly the
real basis Of German proposals. II is
conquest and nothing more
Hf the German peace proposals are
such that the Allies can accept them
and thus end the war. the League TO
Enforce Peace will Immediately there
after begin a vigorous. aggressive, Ton
structive campaign IN line with the
leagues programme" said Herbert ).
Houston. chairman Of the committee
on information for the League to En-
force Peace.
"Germany's peace proposals seem
10 me to be extremely moderate, ana
thew should form a desirable basis for
negotiations" Professor William X.
Shepherd, OF Columbia University de-
clared.
Asked whether he thought the pro
posals would be accepted, ne sara:
"That is a different question. But a,
least the offer should form the bass
for the start Of ultimate peace nego-
tiations and a series Of cross proposals
which may result in bringing about the
end Of the war
Professor Carleton II. Hayes. OF the
History Department, declared that the