The sun., 1916-12-17

soldier, writes to the papers urging that
the men In the trenches v the highest
right to speak on the question n that
their view should be obtained before any
measures are decided upon.
Dispatches from Switzerland say that
Count Tisza, the Hungarian Premier, has
gone to Berlin to use his influence for
peace.
The French victory at verdun IL &C.
claimed by all the London papers as the
French reply to the German Emperor's
speech to his troops in Alsace and Chan
cellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg's claim Of
the invincibility of German arms.
Opinions Of Press.
The opinions in the British press. A.
reflected In the latest editorials. are al
most unanimous that Great Britain can
not ignore the o%vertures and that the
least the Government car do II TO make
a statement on the Allies aims and OBJ
Jects or ask for the presentation Of the
German terms. The weekly reviews. in
Guiding the financial organs. take the
same line. as do also the provincial
papers. The only notable exception has
been the Northcliffe group. which imme-
diately urged hat Great Britain ignore
the overtures.
There appears In be q consensus OF
opinion that the Allies should not con-
slider entering into q conference until
they know approximately the Genital
Powers policy and unless they consider
that that policy contains h seeds for
agreement.
Philip Snowden, Socialist merber for
blackburn, n Of the leaders OF the
small pacifist group In the House OF
ratnpnnna has nnaha ~ lnpxvn tNas he
intends to state the views of that group
In the Commons. Its members heliev.
thai negotiations should be opened. II
only to state the terms Of the Entente "a
the Central Powers.
The W~cstmtnster Gazette to-day sayl
II will be found that Mr.. Snowden Is by
no means an advocate OF peace at any
price and that his party has very definite
views as to the re%paration which Ger.
many should make. The belief OF thii
group hat Germany Is prepared to grant
reasonable terms Is not. however. says
the newspaper. shared by n majority Of
the House.
The first essential Of peace. In the
opinion OF the Nation. Is that both sides
shall concede the right to independence
OF all nations. Commenting on Ger
many's peace offer the Nation says:
''The test will come when our answer
Is known and Germany has to decide
whether she will modify her offer and
come nearer to our position. The real
| onus for the continuance Of the war will
rest on the side which maintains any
demand which would be fatal to the In.
dependence and future Of any bellig'
erent.
! III Germany. for instance, has really
claimed Serbia rs her prey she has in
cluded at least one point which convict.
her of either unbelievable stupidity Of
mere insincerity, and " the claim !.
maintained precludes further discussion
But even to an offer including such
point our answer must be reasoned ant
precise. We shall lose nothing In thu
worlds court OF honor by rejecting tina
claim, but let US not lose sight OF oui
guiding principle hat this war liz wageC
for the ending Of mil!tarism. II Ger
many made a claim involving the de.
structIon of an Independent nation the
war Ia not yet morally won. Her re
| pudiation OF all such claims will be the
test OF her sincerity"
Seen ~ Distress Cry.
The Economtst says II believes Ger
many's cry for peace IL actually a con
fess!on Of internal weakness. prompted
n Distress AT homo and the dimCultie.