The sun., 1916-12-24
ALLIES ANSWER
Is NEARLY READY
Continued from First Page.

addressed to all beiligerents. and says
that a careful reading Of the passage in
which President Wilson suggests that
both sides are ashtins for the same end
reveals that the President said that this
IL what the beillserents tell their own
countrymen. Continuing the Gpaydtan
y
Coming on top Of 0emany's sus-
eestion Of NEGOTIATIONS the note appears
to associate itself with the German view
and the reference to measures which the
United States may nave to take reads
At hrst . little too like . suggestion of
menace. However. II must be borne in
mind that q note couched In similar II
not identical terms IL being sent to all
the belligerents. and II President Will
son wants war with either side he can-
not. without departing from the appear
ance Of strict neutrality. avoid address
ing the same words to the other. For
our part |, will require the very strong.
est evidence to persuade US that In the
face OF the great volume Of sympathy
for the allied cause. which we are as.
sured Of On the other side Of the At.
lan,ic any act seriously ~prejudicial
10 our cause can be contemplated In
Washington.
Another passage In h note which
m in for wen more criticism also
acquires a different value SO soon as We
bethink ourselves that II is addressed
to both partiea This 10 the passage
wh!ch appears to suggest a real iden-
tity Of views a. between III belligerents.
When the passage 10 carefully read II Ia
seen to say not that the two belligerent
parties have the same views or are night
ing for the same ends, but that they pro-
fess 10 be doing 10. when the govern
incnts Justify the war to their own coun-
trymen. This 10 a very different propo.
sition n the passage as read by q
German OF any humor might be taken
az a very severe piece of sarcasm"
sounds . Warning.
The GudrdtaH then sounds a warning
against the ALLIES being betrayed into
playing Germany's game because II We
put ourselves wrong with America We
do play Germany's game and adds
this advice
Let US avoid imputing motives. TAKE
he Presidents note at its face value as q
perfectly sincere document meaning sim
ply what II says. The President believes
he TWO belligerent alliances to be less fal
apart than appears on h surface
Washington probably has means OF In
formation that are not fully available 4
US. and II this view Is taken at Wash
ingtpn. II gives ~ a valuable hin as {,
the mind Of Germany and conditions II
Germany which are working upon tn
minds OF her rulers.
In any case, believing rightly o
wrongly. Germany would 70 further I
meet US than we suppose. DR.. Wilson
suggests that che two sides compar
views Again be II remembered that thi
suggestion is addressed to bot Sides, an
no; 10 one alone.
Now the only views that We hav
from Germany. are. frst. that she consid
. ers herself victorious. and. secondly. tina
she invites us to negotiate. The hrst po
sition we deny. As to the second. "
want TO know something Of the basi
OF the negotiations.
Next M0ve Up 80 Germany.
Clearly the next move II with Ger
many. and " Germany were TO make
definite reply IL would suffice to sho'
whether the an~ticipations OF the not
are eell or are III founded. For es
ample. we demand tho integral restors
ton Of the territories Germany has ir
vaded. This Is definite and admits G
an .r,,aIlc An0pita rspIy ~ and whe