The evening world., 1916-12-23
PRESS Of BERLIN
ISMA|NLY AGAINST
WILSON PROPOSAL
Purely American and Selfish,
Declares George Bernhard
in Vossische Zeitung.
TAGEBLATT FAVORS 1T.
Cologne Gazette Fears the
President Is Playing Into
Hands of Lloyd George.
TAGEBLATT FAVORS 1T.


BERLIN. Dec. % (via Lonion).
the Berlin prcss receives Presi-
dent Wilson's note - the belligeren.
powers with varying views. scarcely
any two papers looking alike AZ the
propostiop. The views range FROM
the enthusiastic welcome accorded
the plan by the TaSeblatt TO the un-
sxpsotsdiy cynical quasi-acquioscence
OF the vossische Zeituns. with the
middle grounds represented by tho
I.ekai Anssiesr. which prefers TO
await the answer Of the Entente
Powers TO the German note before de-
Gliding for or against.
George Bernhard. in the vossische
ze,tuns, visws President wilson's
proposal a. actuatsd purely from
American. selfish motives. America.
he says, nnds itself IN the position OF
haviag passed the heyday point In Its
financial operations with the Entente
and now wants psscs and the CO.
operation Of England IN preparing for
what IL aiiudes to - the Inevitable
japanese trouble.
Herr Bernhard refers 20 Secretary
LAnsinEs statement rsgarding Amer
ieA being drawn TO the verge OF war
~ . distinct tip to Germany. yet he
i6 convinced that America desires to
avoid such a conflict. primarily. for
selfish reasons.
president Wilson's step We well
come" are the words with which Theo-
dofe Wolff opens his comment In the
rassblatt. He adds that quito re-
sardiess Of feeling for or against
President Wilson or the desires in
some circles for war with America,
no responsible politician capable OF
thinking has the right to reject peace
proposals because they como from
Washington. Herr Wolf points out
that President Wilson undoubtedly
has many sources Of information AZ
70 the feeling toward peace In vari-
ops warning countries and therefore
10 not guided by parliamentary
speeches delivered for home and
enemy consumption.
IN ending his article Herr Wolf
declares that. whatever may be th'
outcome Of the proposition. the dis.
cussion Of peace has In any event
begun and cannot be hushed.
"Just because President Wilson'S
peace move 10 such . SURPRISE" sayi
the Cologne Gazette. "it Is moro nee
essary to bs reserved in judging II
1t 10 not very clear what the nature
Of DR.. Wilson's proposal 10. II DR.
Wilson tries to bring about the pub
lication Of the conditions upon which
the two groups are inclined to make
pescs he will asgravate instead OF
smoothing over the contrasts and
only prolong tht war. He would only
be wanting what Lloyd George de-
manded In his speech. and would be
playing tho British game"
The Cologne Volks Zcitung says
'Presldent Wilson's remark that his
step 10 not prompted by the peace Of
fsr Of the Central Powers shows tina,
he has for . long time contemplated
mediation for peact. What this peace
would be We can easily imagine afteI
Dr.. Wiisou's attitude toward thi,
war. We must decline from the out.
set ths participation of a ncutra.
state. namely. tho United States. ~ 4
responsible party in the propose<
coufertnce."
The Neuvs Fteis Press OF Vienna
says President Wilson's note will
have the effect at any ratio Of keep
ing the question Of peace for som
time In the foreground. II adds tina
tho entente win be obliged to dis
cuss . reasonable basis on which /
end the war and that the desire 70
peace In the entente countries vii
b further strensethcnsd.
The Vienna Aligemeine ZeitunS re
maks with satisfaction that Austria
Hungary and her allies considers
the same moment opportune TO pre-
pare the way for peace negotiation
The Neues Wiener Journl eagerl
awaits the attitude OF the entent
toward President Wilson's move Il
view Of the recent declaration OF tn
leading statesmen OF the entente tina
interference by neutrals. with the OBJ
tect Of bringing about peace. woul,
- scarcely a friendly act.