The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-13
Paris Papers Derisive

Paris, Dec. 13-"A clumsy trap" is the caption under which morning papers print Chancellor Von Bethmann- Hollweg's speech in, the Reich stag. s~''The time forfeints is over, ,, says the Petit Journal.
 we are no longer in the presence of the trial of efforts of those persis- tent appeals through interviewers and newspaper articles" the paper con- tinues. Chancellor Von Hollweg his speech but to be confronted with an act. We do not know if at Berlin there are people so naive as to imag- inc that the allies are liely to swallow this clumsy bait. even on the morrow of the events in Rumania In any case Field Marshal Von Hindenburg's statement shows that the military cherish no such illusion. What is still more certain is that the treach- erous German move aims at something else than genuine peace. It seeks an internal and external effect in Ger many. It is intended to convince the people that the government is not responsible for the sacrifices impos- ed, that it's adversaries alone are re- sponsible for the continuation of the struggle. Abroad it desires to per- suade neutrals that the allies are pur- suing policy of ambition. That is the explanation of the pretended moderation in the tone of the speech.
 ''The speech merely emphasizes es- sential weakness which temporary successes cannot hide,'' the Petit Journal continues: "It is because Germany knows she cannot win that she desires to end the war. Her plan, however, is doomed. It will fail before. the immovable resolution of the allies.''
 The Matin characterizes the peace proposals as Mere talk" saying:
 They contain no territorial, politi- cal or other conditions which could serve as a basis of discussion. Ger many simply says for the hundredth time that she never desired war and wishes only to protect her rights and that if her enemies will not listen she will throw the blame of further blood shed on them. The device is too ob- vious. It could not deceive any but the most ignorant.
 Another motive is the necessity of making Germany accept the suffer ings and sacrifices of another winter campaign. If only the civilian pop ulation had to endure this, not much harm would be done, but the army is beginning to feel the strain. During the last few weeks rations have been reduced and in three months time they will be poor indeed. Germany is compelled to talk of peace, but she docs it as vaguely as possible in the hope of spreading dissention among her enemies and keeping her coalition together"
 In an article in the Figaro, Fred erick Capus, dramatist. says: What of the conditions? What is the whole thing for? We want peace, too, but our peace is not theirs. What then are Germanys conditions? Nothing precise. She informs us only that her. pretensions are moderate, and proposes to us to stop the war while she defines them. As soon as we lay down our arms, as soon as the image of peace shall have done it's work of disturbing our minds and a peace party shall have been formed in France. Russia and England, then Germany will enlighten us on the conditions which she now calls mod crate. Such is the trap. It will be met by us and by our allies with grim contempt, not even with anger. The motive is too clumsy to be worthy of Indignation