The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-13
CLEVER PLAY
BY GERMANY

CLEVER PLAY
BY GERMANY
(Continued from page l.;
lThey must refuse with equal firmness
to talk about an armistice until the
lands which the enemy has over run
are restored and compensated. Ihey
must renew the enunciatton OF their
peace terms laid down once for all IN
I Asuuith's Guild hall speech and they
must redouble their efforts to force
these terms upon the accompllces-
There can be no compromise and no
| talk of a drawn war where the very
principles of public right are at stake.
| The Mail ckaracterizes the peace
! proposals as Won Bethmann'Hollwegs
''impudent> peace trick.
! "The allies" the editorial said, will
not be caught by this white whistler
| ed device. They know that peace
with nation of tigers and murderers
/ and statemen who regard all treaties
as scraps Of paper, would not De
worth the paper and ink, so long as
Germany has not been properly ana
decisiyely beaten. No peace with her
can be more than a truce which she
would violate at the first moment, it,
served her purpose. 1t would not
save us money or effort for we would
still have to spend every available
penny on munition and equipment In
preparation for Germany's treacher
GUS blow. II would be better and
cheaper by far to fight on"
The Daily News declares that not
too much attention be paid to the
chancelors arrogant invitation" but
holds the allies must not make the
bhunder of refusing to enter into ne
gotiations, in view OF Germanys
astute move.
Already Answered.
| rBy Ed L. Keen, United Press starr
Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 13.-The British
people have already answered Ger
many's offer of psace-"no. not on
such a basis as proposed"
That answer was perfectly appar-
Ient today. 1t was reflected not only
in the newspaper comment, but IN
expressions from the people on the
| streets.
The nation looks to Lloyd-George
next Tuesday to frame this answer.
lit cannot be direct reply, since 1t
is hardly expected England's con-
sultation with her allies over what
form the diplomatic answer shall be,
can be constructed that soon. But
Saturday will be Lloyd-George's first
app earance as premier before the
house of commons, and before news
| of Germany's proposal came, he mad
been announced as ready to outline
on that date, the aims and purposes
of the new cabinet.
| Press and public alike look to
lLloyd-George on this occasion to voice
the nations rejection OF any peace
which is based on Germany's idea OF
her victory.
Germany's peace terms, as given
out by a German embassy official In
Washington, were generally regarded
as preposterous and unworthy OF SER
ious consideration here.
Iloyd-George's telegram to Premier
BRAND OF France, together with the
formers recent interview granted
| the United Press, portions OF which
were literally reproduced in the Brit
ish press today, were considered in
dicative Of Britain's attitude toward
Won Bethmann-Hollweg.
The only keynote Of difference OBJ
servable in editorial comment today
was whether the allies, in their re-
ply to the German note should set
forth therein their own terms upon
! which peace discussion would be con-
sidered. I; the practical unaninity
Of opinion OF the press and public
means anything, the reply will be re-
jected.
Press comment ranged today all the
way from the Daily Nails suggestion
that Won Bethmann-Hollweg is mo
more entitled to the courtesy of
reply than an armed burglar in a.
private house." to that made by the
Manchester Guardian that 'negotia-
tons should at least 90 as far as to
ascertain Germany's exact terms.
| A number OF newspapers point out
1.-The desirability in view of the manner
in which Germany made her offer
that the allies in replying clearly
inunciate their own aims In the war
] for the benefit OF the worlds opin-
| ion; that the terms on which the al
lies are willing to enter peace ne
gotiations be clearly set forth. Such
comment holds that only in this way
can responsibility for the continuance
| of the war-which responsibility Ger
many obviously seeks to place upon
the allies-be turned upon the central
! powers.
| Among numerous interviews with
public men, gathered by the London
press, there is only one advocating ac-
| ceptance of Germany's proposition
and immediate entrance into negotia-
tions. That is the opinion voiced by
| Philip Snowden, the empires leading
pacifist, who considers that the al
| lies will incur an awful responsibility
| If they decline 1t Is at least their
duty, he holds to see whether the
German proposals contain the pos
sibility OF ending the war on condi-
tions, reasonable and as far as pos
sible satisfactory to everybody.
| There was considerable opinion
! that the note was merely a Clever
Teutonic trick" for the purpose OF
| starting discussion. among the allies
and nnSs ihlv fhus To croatia diSsan-