New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-19
Premier May Modify
Recent" "KnOCkOut
Declaration
NOTE DELIVERED
BY u. S. ENVOY
Widest Pacifists Do Not
Hope for Wars
End Now
By ARTHUR s. DRAPER
Try Cable 70 TIE Trbune

IBy Cable 70 Tie lrlouneI
London. Dec. 1S.-David Lloyd
George, in his first speech in Par
lament as Premier, will give Brit
aims reply to the German peace pro-
posals to-morrow-just one week
from the day that Chancellor Won
Bethmann- Hollweg told the world
that the Teutonic allies were ready
to talk about peace.
The official text of the German
note has now been presented to most
of the Entente governments. AM
bassador Page left Great Britain's
copy at the Foreign Office this morn
ing, and a little later, dispatches
from Paris, say, the note was deliv-
cred there.
It is impossible to give an official
statement in advance as TO what
Lloyd George will say, but on my own
responsibility, venture to predict
that after tomorrow Britain's posi-
ton will be clearer than Asquith's
pledges made it, and that it will be
about as follows:
That the tone Of Bethmann- Holl-
another statement, giving the condi-
tions she IL prepared to offer, before
the Allies will even consider open
ing negotiations.
That the tone of Bethmann-Hol-
weg's offer has satisfied the Allied
leaders that no good can come from
a conference at this time.
Great Britain has been playing q
cautious, waiting game the last week,
giving all her allies an opportunity
TO decide independently whether
they are ready now to consider a
peace by negotiations, or whether
they wish to fight on until more
promising terms are possible.
In every Allied nation, including
Britain, there are groups represent
ing all the various shades of feeling
from ANY peace is better than more
war" to Crush Germany at any
cost"
Premier Expected TO Moderate
Just what course Lloyd George will
take only few Of his most intimate
advisers know, but some Of the keen
est politicians believe there will be a
big modification Of his famous knock
out" interview. They believe ii will
reflect in large measure the great bur-
den OF responsibility resting on his
shoulders-s burden which has been
greatly increased recently because the
Allies are leaning more and more
heavily on Britain.
All the belligerents have been modi-
flying their views rapidly this winter,
but the process OF modification and re-
adjustment has not yet reached ths
point where negotiations are practical
BILE. The new British government has
more fire and force than its predcees.
sor-but responsibility makes for eau
ton.
Even the widest pacifists hardly hope
for peace now, but, on the other hand,
even the sternest advocates Of q war
to finish say that the war has tecn
appreciably shortened by Bethmann-
Hollweg's speech. The believers in .
war OF attrition, 70 be carried TO the
limit OF complete exhaustion OF one or
the other OF the combatsnts, have
diminished rapidly in the last week.
Still Bitter Against Germans
The desire to destroy Prussisn mill
atrism has not diminished, but the peo.
pie are taking a ssner attitude as TO
means and possibilities, and are view
ing the situation from a wider angle.
Lloyd Georges speech may prove mors
Of a surprise TO the extreme lighting
faction than TO the pacifsts.
Not less vital and interesting TO Brit
ons, and perhaps not less influential on
the final outcome Of the war, will be
the Premier's references to internal AZ
fairs. His speech will outline the
whole policy OF the new national gov
ernment. the trend OF which may be
roughly anticipated from the fact that
the new ministry is avowedly in powe,
for the definite object "of carrying on
the war with all the vigor the nation
can command TO a successful end"
| In the immediate foreground. and OF
tremendous Importance, are such sub
jects as the control OF the food sup.
| ply, the Irish question, the Efficient
turning 70 war purposes OF the whols
man power OF the nation. and even ths
possibility Of calling a general elcc
tion.
What nc may have 10 say about Ire
land is likely 70 have the creates
Importance.
The address will undoubtedly be es
tremely long, covering q wide rang
A. n