New Britain herald., 1916-12-23

Anze1ger though admitting that Pres1- dent Wilson's note to the belligerent powers has great political significance, wonders whether 1t comes as an after math of the German proposal to the Entente or Is independent of 1t. The Loka1 Anzeiger declares that Germany and her allies cannot take a stand un- til the Entente answers Is received, which from advance report 1t con- siders gives no cause for optimism. On the character of this answer and whether it proves to be a reply to the speeches of Premiers Briand and Lloyd George the paper thinks the fate of the Wilson note appears to stand or fall. The Anzeiger says 1t has no desire to belittle the efforts of tho president but reiterates that they arc subordinate to the next move of tho Entente.
 Count von Reventlow, in the Deutsche Tages Zeitung, declares that the character of the Entente opinion Is that "the United States are mixing 1t" Count Reventlow devotes the greater part of his editorial to the statement of Secretary Lansing, which he terms a threat against Germany that America will enter the war on the
  the emperor, instead of consenting to a conference under any circumstances use her naval weapons against Eng land and damage what he terms the Anglo American cause. 'Wilson's step," says Count von Reventlaw lis nothing but an effort to save England from catastrophe.'
 The Tageisch Rundschau says sar- cast1cally that President Wilson we'll understood how to commit his peace proposals while business was good In America, but that 1t was inevitable that some time America should enter the world war either as a combatant or would-be peacemaker. The Rundschau asserts that MT Wilson should remember that America, while proflting from the war, made it's quick ending impossible by restricting sub marine warfare. President Wilson is actuated,'' says this paper, by vanish ing profits on one hand and the fear of submarine warfare on the other hand. He knows that if the German peace overtures were rejected it would spell sharpened and intensified fight ing at sea. The Wilson plan will meet more recognition with the Entente than with the Central Powers"
 1cOISS DcIIldIu, III the NOSSlSCne Zeitung, views President Wilson's proposal as actuated purely from Am erican, selfish motives.
 He refers to Secretary Lansng's statement regarding America being drawn to tho verge of war as dis tinct tip to Germany that America desires to avoid such a conflict. pri- marly, for selfish reasons
 The Vossfche Zeitung declares also that President Wilson need not de- ceive himself into thinking that he can lay down any precepts for the conference. There will be no truce, 1t says. but the fighting will continue, with Germany's terms increasing in severely as she achieves military suc- cess.
 President Wilson's steps we well come," are the words with which Odor Wolff opens his comment in his paper.
 He adds that quite regardless of feeling for or against President Will son or the desires in some connec- tions for war with America, no pol itician capable of thinking has the right to reject peace proposals be- cause they come from Washington. Herr. Wolff points out that President Wilson undoubtedly has many sources of information as to the feeling to- wards peace in various countries and, therefore, Is not guided by parliamen- tary speeches delivered for home and enemy consumption. If the peace conditions of the entente actually reflected in the speeches of ". Po- krovsky the Russian finance minis ter, or David Lloyd George, the Brit 3e1, 1o to peace Is not a smooth one, for such peace would add merely a humilia- tion. President Wilson. however, he continues, is obviously aiming for a peace that would be a recontinuation and Germany, despite what the writer alludes to as the angry clamor of the greedy, desires such a peace.
 In ending his article Herr Wolff de- clares that whatever may be the out come of the proposals. the discussions of peace has in any event begun and cannot be hushed.
 The Boersen zeitung accepts the Wilson note in a friendly manner but declares that there must be no confusion between the German and American propositions, since, 1t says, the Germans made their overtures in the consciousness of victory won while America makes hers. according to Secretary Lansing. because she is on the verge of participation in the war. The paper disagrees decidedly with President Wilson's words re- garding the war aims of all the com batants appearing the same. It re- iterates, as does every other paper, that Germany is fighting for self l and not the protection i of small nations The Boersen Ze1- l tung compliments President Wilson l on not having offered himself as a | mediator and expresses confidence l that he will appreciate the German 1 if Germany has to con- ] tinue the fight in case. the entente l abides by it's determination to an- |