Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-20
THE REPLY OF THE ALLIES.

The reply Of the Allies to German peace proposals
was forecast with perfect that propheses
would come true. and come true they did.
The Allies are in position TO quit the war,
while the close of the year finds the Central Powers
in by far the best position entertain peace negotia
tions they have reached since the battle Of the
Marine.
The Allies have achieved virtually of the OBJ
jects they announced actuating them in entering
the conflict. Belgium is not won back France has
not only been unable TO retake more than small
part of Alsice Lorraine but much larger portion
of her territory is in German hands. Russia has lost
Poland and much other ground. Serbia is ami
hilated Rumania is almost submerged Italy has
gained something from Austria, but not her coveted
goal Trieste.
The British navy has swept German mercantile
shipping from the seas, and the Allies have killed
Gernlany's overseas commerce and foreign trade,
and conquered Germanys colonies. The German
fleet has been bottled up with more than Il fair
amount of success, but Teuton submarines continue
TO do damage to Allied and neutral shipping
which is keenly felt.
Though the Central Powers have lost their valu.
able overseas possessions territorial and CONNER
cial-they have materially enlarged their European
boundaries. That is why they are in now the best
position since the war began to talk of peace Al
the very outset of the their colonies doomed
and the fate of their searade sealed but they have
slowly turned the scales of the land combat in their
favor by organization of forces which has evoked
reluctant admiration even from their enemies. In
brief, the Central Powers suffered their greatest
losses at the beginning Of the war and have since
developed their greatest gainsspeaking now of the
factors which must count when the diplomats sit
down to negotiate peace terms.
The AlliesIBritain particplarly-wage the war
in the name of humanity and justice toward Bel
GUM. Obviously, a peace which does not include
restoration of Belgium to independence, with huge
indemnity for its rayishment is not the peace which
the Allies have said would be attained at any cost
TO themselves. obviously, any peace negotiations
based on the present map of Europe are impossible
Of acceptance to the Allies. Obviously, too, the
Allies cannot enter into negotiations now without
acknowledging that they are unable to force the
Central Powers to the terms they have promised the
world will be melted out.
Premier Lloyd Georges speech could not have been
bluff brusque refusal to discuss peace in any way
No belligerent in so-called civilized war can
fuse to listen when suggestions for end to conflict
come from the other side Particularly in such
desperate, exhausting this, with nations
wiped out and other nations in the throes of life
and-death struggle, no hint of peace PLAN be it
ever slight ever mpractieable, can be abso
lutely turned down without hearing, if it comes
from the other side.
But Lloyd George has made il perfectly plain that
he Allies will go fighting because they do not be-
lieye Germany will grant the only kind of peace they
can now accept.
Instead of shortening the war. the present pro
posa may very well have the effect of lengthenng it,
For Germany has proclaimed the Central Powers
victorious in their European campaigns and in so
many words expressed readiness either to talk
peace now or TO fight on. And the Allies have re-
affirmed an implacable intention of reducing the
Teutons to their terms. Consequently. the peoples
of the Central Empires have been told that they
carry this war through to victory if the Allies
insist that Il must he war; and the peoples of the
Entente group have been told that triumph awaits
them if they but continue their struggles and sacri
fees. In the Central countries particularly, any
move TO yield TO the Allies, any reduction in the
terms, any concessions, will be harder to explain
after the chancellor's speech than before it.