New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-23
WILSON REBUKED
BY PARIS PRESS
His Fundamental Error
Dates Far Back, De-
clares the Temps"
FEARS SUBMARINES,
SAYS LA LIBERTE'
Answer to Note Lloyd
Georges Speech in Com
mons, Papers Assert

Paris. Dec. D. Frances reception OK
President Wilson's note, as reflected IN
the Paris newspapers to-day, Is iar
from hattering.
For instance the Temps" which car
res great political weight, after al
luding 70 VIVA. It terms the courteous
and precise form Of President Wilson's
note, says:
at certainly seems that the Wash
ington Cabinet in its desire for peace
has neglected 20 look the problem IN
the face and weigh the real evidence.
President Wilson's fundamental error
dates far back, 70 his refusal TO pass
upon the initial responsibility for the
war. Judge what the two groups OF
beligerents say and think about peace.
Can one forget that one Of them de
libcrstely broke the peace while the
other did everything TO keep IT,"
The Temps" remarks that President
Wilson seems to see in Chancellor Won
Bethmann-Hollwe speech declara-
tion Of respect FOR the rights Of small
powers and asks:
"Can any such declarations be ac-
cep,ed without thinking of the wrong
OF Austria against Serbia, the wrongs
Of Germany against Belgium at the
beginning Of the war and the deporta-
tons going on at the present moment!
Statements Are Doubted
an a word, can one believe the state
ments of the man whose acts denv the
words he has spoken?
"As to the harm the war does to
neutrals. il is very true that harm has
been done. but there are two kinds Of
harm: One is a blockade for the il
corruption Of commerce and such
things inevitable in war; the other =
assassination and violation Of the writ
ten laws regulating international rela-
tons. Can a single act Of the latter
type be imputed to the Allies? All the
world knows it cannot.
"On sea and on land the Germans
have violated all the laws OF civilized
warfare America suffers by the
war, but suffers by the fault of those
who started it. America knows that
the German note is lacking in all de-
tails and precision; that il is trap
and not an act Of peace. America can
not ask us TO fall into the trap.
The desire of Americans for peace
is creditable. 1t has been ours and our
allies for thirty months. The war was
imposed on US by people avid of con-
quest. Now we want q peace that Will
be durabe-snd only victory can bring
il. We want a peace which, by making
impossible the return of aggression,
will guarantee US anu all neutrals
against a repetition of the horrors we
now suffer
"In this resolution. affirmed By all
the governments Of the Entente.
America will find the only valuable
guarantee Of her aspirations for peace.
She will not find it in the words Of
Germany. so often violated
Results Are Sought
There is no doubt that Washing
ION has good intentions, but intentions
are not sll-the results must be
looked at
ION the eve of the Christmas holt
days says La Liberte,' president
Wilson would greet the dove of peace
with greater pleasure. since he fears TO
see his country drawn into the melee
The submarine warfare which Germany
threatens to wage to the utmost, re-
gardless OF promises made, II it's peace
overtures are ineffective, may draw the
United States into the world conflict
Secretary Lansing expressed that fear
and IL is what American public opinion
breads.
I've should certainly be desolated il
its dignity and interests obliged the
Washington government to break with
perjured and barbarous Germany. Moro
than any other country, France, which
was attacked without the shadow OF
pretext, knows what there is OF trag-
edy in such an hour, but We cannot
help il. Our American friends must
take into account the fact that we are
struggling for ends common to them
and TO us. For civilization and right
we are making war on war and TO pre-
vent forever the return Of hecatombs
such az the universe now contcmplates
with terror.
Refer to Lloyd George
ITO President Wilson's suggestion
We Frcnchmen can make no other reply
than that of Lloyd George. Let the
Germans restore territory, let them
give reparation and let them offer guar
antees assuring real, not a precari-
Gus peace. and We shall be happy 70
reply TO the prayer Of President Will
SON"
"A dramatic stroke" is the way LIN
transigeant" heads President Wilson's
note to the belliserents. Commenting
on the note. the newspaper says;
Everybody will understand the i'm
portance OF Americas act. Mr.. Will
sons proposal is clear. The United
States has had to suffer from the war.
Germany is torpedoing its boats, and
the United States is sending Us mate
rial and already has given US financial
aid.
at is natural that the President
should desire 10 know the purposes of
the belligerents. Certainly this act
I'LL J;,arropge tho alv rnanpuyre Ger