Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-21
ALLIES MAY REPLY
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Believed Answer Will Leave
Door Open for Germany to
Make Concrete Proposals.
PRELIMINARY DRAFTS MADE
Terms Of Note Expected to Fol-
low Lloyd Georges Speech
in Commons.
PRELIMINARY DRAFTS MADE
lBy Associated Press.

o.
posal will be mai" before Christmas
This was the opinion in weu-informed
government circles to-day. where II
is also believed the ronlv vii, be brioe
and will likely follow the lines or
Lloyd Georges maiden speech as Primo
Minister in so far as il Will leave the
door open for Germany to make con-
crete peace proposals.
Great Britain's official repiv 10 Cor
many. as prominent officials preferred
to term 81. will be dispatched stimuli
taneously with that of her allies Ever
since the German note was handed to
the Foreign Office by tn. American
ambassador il has been the subject of
discussions between Premier Llovd
George and his Cabinet council. which
meets daily. The note and the nature
of the reply also have been disclosed
with Great Britain's allies, and IL is
stated that these conversations have
progressed so rapidly that preliminary
drafts have already been made.
II would. therefore. not be surpris-
ing II the allies replies were ready
by the end o. the week. Especially.
1t is said, would this be true in the
case ot Great Britain's note. which the
Prime Minister is declared to be
anxious TO dispatch without delay.
REPLY TO he FORWARDED
THROUGH WASHINGTON
When the terms OF the note are
definitely agreed upon and the docu-
>nent is signed by Lord Robert Cecil.
who is acting Foreign Secretary in the
absence OF Mr. Dalfour. II NAV he
handed to Ambassador Page with the
request that he forward il to the State
Department at Washington for trans
mission TO Germany. This is said to
be the most likely method. inasmuch
as the United States represents the
allies interests in Germany. Ii is just
possible. however, that Great Britain
may decide to dispatch the reply direct
10 the British ambassador at Wash
nEton. with instructions 10 turn it
over TO the State Department.
The bulk of the morning papers
agree that Premier Lloyd George cx-
pressed the views OF the British. nation
in his speech in the House OF Commons
dealing with Germany's peace pro-
posal
Premier Lloyd George" says the
Times. "eXpr essed the thoughts and
wishes of th- nation and laid down
program which will command it's hearty
support MS is inc tone OIL Inc COM
ment in most of tn. other papers who
hold that tho Prcmier's answer and
also Lord Curzon's speech in the House
OF Lords are moderate in phrase. firm
and unanswcrable in substance" The
papers declare that tho nation is pre-
pared and will willingly undertake all
the sacrifices forcshadowcd. and will
face greater privations if necessary to
insure those ends Of rcparation and
security which the allies demand from
the central powers.
There is nowhere any hostile criti-
rism of the governments declaration
hut the Daily News contends that the
forecast of the measures for organizing
the nation do little more than indicate
that the policy of the late government
will be continued and extended. 1t
says that il the new government sue
cccds as well as its predecessor. the
nation will be grateful. and that IL Il
succeeds tho nation will be more than
grateful.
DOOR NOT NECESSARILY
BANGED AND BOLrED
At the same time the newspaper COM
mcnt points out the possibility of nego-
tiations being undertaken. notwith-
standing the strong statements Of the
Premier and Lord Curzon and their in
dorsement by members OF the late gov
ernnent. Thus the Daily News snys
that the door is not necessarily banged
and bolted. and that the allies flat
refusal OF Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Iollwcg's offer is not meant to indi-
cate that the allies do not wish peace.
hut that Germany must ask il in the
role OF the vanQuishcd and not the
victor The News expresses the hope
that the allies will speedily agree on
precise terms which they will be
willing TO negotiate. Even the Mail
which has always demanded extreme
measures against Germany, says:
There is no obstacle whatever to
peace If Germany really wants It, She
has merely to withdraw from the occu-
pied countries. and we are willing
enough 10 discuss rcparation and guar
antccs for the future
Premier Lloyd Georges reply to Ger
many's peace proposal meets with
chorus OF approval in the British press.
and the general comment is that If
Germany really wants peace she WILL
when the joint reply OF the allies is
received. state terms which can form
basis of discussion. The Manchester
Guardian says:
Premier Lloyd George has not shut
the door on peace with that rcsoundinS
cIang for which some of his less
balanced supporters In the press have
been listening. 1t is true he insisted
on the mpossiblity Of accepting tho
German invitation as it stands. In
this he was ably seconded by Mr. AS
quith and will be approved by the
country. The German Chancellor
must be both more modest and more
explicit before he can expect any fav-
orablc answer to his visitation But
the real danger in the situation which
his offer created was that the allies.
this country In particular. might be
led into an abrupt and sweeping re-
fusal. not merely OF the actual invita-
ton. hut of any proposal to discuss
peace terms. This snare Lloyd George
has avoided"
The Guardian says that as the speech
CONTINUED on Second Page.)