Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-26
TORRENT OF CRITICISM
GREETs WILSON'S NOTE
Russian Press and Public Maintain
Tone Of Polite, .amiabic
Rejection.
iNopPoRTUNE MOMENT CHOSEN
Prominent Members of Duina and
Political Leaders Unite in Conyic.
ton That Peace Suggestions Are
Ill-Timed and Impracticablc.

PETROGRAD. December - tvia
l.ondon) .-Presidcnt Wilson's note has
called forth from the Russian press
and from tho nation itself. as far as
can b" Judged from it's effect III Of
fetal and political circles in pctrog rad ,
y torrent Of criticism, partly toleran,
and partly sharply adverse. bu, for
the most part maintaining a tone Of
polite. amiahlc rejection
Tho Associated Press has been in
formed that the Russian government
received the note In the spirit OF
friendl'nrss In which ii WAS offered.
but. while approaching the humans
tartan motives whc-l prompted it. will
find ii impossible at present tu sugg est
any terms which could suarantc. "A
durable peace.
MI the newspapers comment on what
is termed the inopportune moment
chosen FOR peace mediation. Th. Reich
says President Wilson would better
have been guided by the negative =, :
ttudc which he observed in transmit t.
ting the offer.
''lt is too carly to give such counsel. ("
says the Reich. AT such time counsel
can b" more harmful than useful. lie
Suppos"s both sides are following more
or less the same objects What can
the people and governments of the al
lies reply after having definitely re-
fused Gcrmany's offer? Does President
Wilson think the offer has been re-
fused simply ON account, OF "a lack OF
concrete terms, and that 81 he fills this
inch. we can consider peace ncgotia
tons? There is no necessity to await
x-I,t 10, e..
be unacceptable. II President Wilson
docs not understand that no offers can
be mutually acceptable to tho allies and
their enemies. we. at least. under
stand it,
Prominent members or the Duma and
all the political leaders from whom an
expression OF opinion could be obtain a
concerning the note were united in the
conviction that the American peace
suggestions were illtimcd and mn
practicable. Prctossc" "r;.ir, ca I:ilu-
koff. leader OF tho constitutional demo-
Gratis said: president Wilson's offer
makes an odd Impression The Prcsl-
dent said that at tho time the German
proposal was submitted that he would
consider comment harmful. and that
tho United States would take part in
peace mediation only IL il obtained a
hint from the allies that they would
nnd American Interference" acceptable
quite tho opposite is the case. In
such Il case. II seems that President
wilson's offer or assistance Is futile
The note can only make a negative
Impression.
''rhc lack OF definite terms was not
the only obstacle To the allies con-
.idcra ion oc CNrmany's proposal We
can guess what taa central powers will
offer. and II they offered much more
Than was expected, even then the time
would not be ripe for mediation"
-. Eod2lanko. president OF the Duma
sad: My attitude toward the note
~ negative. 1t is not time for us or
our allies to conclude peace. There
would not be peace for any length of
Zine, and then the war would have
been fought IN vain. The reply to
President Wilson'S note must be the
same az that TO this proposal OF the
central powers"
Opinions expressed by various other
members OF the Duma were IN similar
vein.