New Britain herald., 1916-12-14

WOIlu. Ine IeTHlan SOlu1STS ana civilians can bear the war and it's burdens now knowing full we'll that their country has put the question of
 peace squarely up to the enemy coun- tries. Whether the terms are fair and acceptable to the other belliger-
 ents is out of the question so far as the German people are concerned. All they need know is that the proposals have been made. If the offer is not accepted that is not their fault. From
 that time on, if the proposals are
 spurned, the Germans must wage de-
 fensive war from a German stand
 point.
 Lloyd George if he deigns to answer
 the proposals offered by Germany in
 his speech in Parliament will in
 all probability call attention to the
 lack of any definite proposals in the
 terms advanced. A close study of the
 documents made public in this coun-
 character of a peace that would be
 wholly acceptable to Germanys
 enemies. Generalities are dealt in-
 to the nth degree. The Chancellors
 keeping with the peace proposals
 There is defiance, to be sure There is boasting, which is excusable and ad- mirable. If England and France can not see the way clear to accept the generous CD terms of Germany, Ger many is willing and ready to go on to the finish, whatever that finish may be. Germany did not start the war, so she says, ergo it will be nothing against her honor if the war continues. In the sight of God and humanity she is vindicated. To Lloyd George and his new cabinet must go the stigma that is attached to a continuance of the butchery. The responsibility of continuing the war will be upon the Allies, if Lloyd George does not ac- cept the invitation to negotiate for a lasting peace, and Germany's skirts l will be clear; but Lloyd George might 1 think otherwise. His alert mind will l be quick to show that England and l France cannot afford to back down | now, just at moment when they are i getting started in the right direction. l They have sacrificed too many men 1 under the blundering of the old regime not to want change, at least in mili- -ary tactics,
 Again, Englands man of the hour nay not like the looks of those gener- II propositions that have come out of Germany previous to this There have been all sorts of rumors about peace and upon what grounds peace could oe established. But every rumor carried plans formulated by the Ger nan mind and necessa riIy favorab ble % the Central Powers. It was pro- posed at one time, it will be remem- oered, to bring about peace by the restoration of Belgium, ''the complete of Belgium;' but the com olete restoration of the little rag doll l of Europe can never be hoped for Then in the generalities advanced in these latest proposals for peace nego- ;iations there is the suggestion that the German armies be withdrawn from the northern part of France Teu- tonic forces occupying that territory ] do not worry France so much as l does the problem of running them out | and thus vindicating French honor. | The French have too much tradition behind them to stand idly by and watch great hordes of invaders march silently back over the battle line with out wanting to give an impetus to the the party that helped repel them and drive them back. So it is unlikely that France will adhere to any such German propositions as those ad- Vanced even if England were willing and ready to accept the offer. And neither one of the entente allies can
 make move toward a permanent
 peace until all agree as to the
 som mething to say before any negotia- tions get under way and it is doubt
 full if Russia will take kindly to the
 thought of Poland and Lithuania be-
 ing raised to independent kingdoms
 under German supervision, which is
 also part of the scheme for bringing
 about permanent peace. The truth of
 the matter is that the Allies cannot
 honorably accept the German terms
 and Lloyd George may emphatically
 state the reasons in his speech next