The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-31

N preViously gwen was repeated m Il
 each message. 
 trality and which had the assurance to proclaim that treaties were scraps of paper, and that necessity knows no law
 At the present moment these sham offers on the part of Germany rest
 on the war map of Europe alone, which represented nothing more than a superficial and passing phase of the situation and not the real strength of the belligerents. A peace concluded upon these terms would be only to the advantage of the aggressOrs, who, aft CT imagining that they would reach their goal in two months, discovered after two years that they cJuld never attain it.
 As for the future the disasters caused by the German declaration of war and the innumerable outrages by Germany and her allies against both lelligerents and neut@als demand penalties, ,euaration and guarantees Germany avoids mentioning any of these
 In Italy these oyertures made by the central powers are nothing more than calculated attempt to inf uence the future course Of war and to end it by imposing a German peace. The object of these overtures is to create dissension in public opinion in the allied countries But thai public opinion has, in spite of all the sacri- fees endured by the allies, already given it's answer with admirable firm ness and has denounced the empty pretense of the declaration of the enemy powers.
 They nave the further object Of stifiening public opinion in Germany and in the countries allied to her. .o1e and all severely tried by | el- and crushed by the supreme effort which has been imposed upon their
 inhabitants
 They endeavor to deceive and in timidate public opinion in neutral countries whose inhabitants have lolg since made up their minds where the
 initial responsibility lies and are far too enl ghtened to favor the designs of Germany by abandoning the de fense Of human freedom.
 Finally these overtures attempt to justify in advance in the eyes of the world new series of crimes--subma- rile warfare deportations, forced tabor and forced enlistment of the in- habltants against their own countries and violations of neutrality
 Fully conscious of the gravity of this mcment, but equally conscious of its requirements the allied govern ments closely united to one another and in perfect sympathy with their people refuse to consider a proposal which is empty and insincere.
 Once again the allies declare that no peace is possible so long as they have not secured reparation for vio- lated rights and liberties, the recogni- tioa cf the principle of nationalities and of the free existence of small states: SO long as they have not brought about q settlement calcuiat- ed to end once and for all forces which have constituted perpetual menace to the nations and afford the oa;y effective guarantee for the fu- ture security of the world.
 "Iu conclusion the allied powers think 1t necessary to put forward the following considerations which show the special situation Of Belgium after two and 2 half years of war. In vir tue of the international treaties sign ed by five great European powers, of whom Germany was one, Belgium en- ioyed before the war special status rendering her territory involable a1d placing her under the guarantee of the powers outside all European con flicts She was, however, in spite of these treaties, the first to suffer the aggi essl lon of Germany For this req son the Belgian government thinks !, necessary td define the aims which Belgium has never ceased to pursue while lighting side by side with the entente powers for right and pUsiice
 "Belgium has always ssrupplous fulfilled the duties which lsr neutral: lay imposed uroa her. Sg as taken up arms te dnfeaa herf N4rre 4