Evening star., 1916-12-20

Ey the ASSOCIATED ffess
LONDON. December 20. 10:45 am
Premier Lloyd Georges reply to Ger
many's peace proposal meets with q
chorus of approval in the British press.
and the general comment is that IL
Germany really wants peace she will.
when the joint reply Of the allies is re-
ceived. state terms which can form q
basis of discussion. The Manchester
Guardian says:
Premier Lloyd George has not shut
the door on peace with that resounding
clang for which some Of his less bals
anced supporters in the press have been
listening. 1t is true he insisted on the
impossibility of accepting the German
invitation as il stands. In this he was
ably seconded by Mr.. AsQuith and will
be approved by the country
The German chancellor must be both
more modest and more explicit before he
can expect any favorable answer to his
invitation. But the real danger in the
situation which his offer created was
that the alsies, this country in parttcu-
lar. might be led into an abrupt and
sweeping refusal, not merely Of the &C.
t6sf Ezvala3f6H SIT f0f>zny proposal -
discuss peace terms. This snare Lloyd
George has avoided"
Full Reparation Impossible.
The Guardian says that as the speech
invited Germany to be more explicit
OF n,yf nj
settlement and the neutral world can
not take exception to this attitude"
The Guardian notes that the speech
contained no hint of the crushing of
Germany, but says discussion OF any
matter is conditioned on restitution. In
the truest form, it continues. repara-
ton is impossible. for the deepest
wrongs cannot be undone.
Security we certainly require" the
Guardian continues THE best security
Is the firm, unbroken front Of the alliance,
fortified when the war ends by a untyer-
sal league to enforce peace. In SUCH .
league America would play great part,
and her presence alone would be no small
security"
Expressing the opinion that Chancellor
Won Bethmann Hollweg will admit on re-
Election that the proposals OF the entente
allies as outlined by Mr.. Lloyd George,
formed n basis for discussion, the Guar
dian says:
'.T'here is in this as in all countries at
war a great volume of opinion. too little
vocal, unfortunately, in favor of a serious
effort on the part Of Europe's statesmen
to put an end to the carnage which ts do
stroyfng tho whole generation of the
young"
Views of British Nation.
The bulk of the morning papers agree
that Premier Lloyd George expressed the
views Of the British nation.
premier Lloyd George" says the
Times, expressed the thoughts and
wishes of the nation and laid down a
propram which will command its hearty
support"
This is the tone Of the comment In
most of the other papers, who hold that
the uremter's answer and also Lord Cur
zon's speech in the House OF Lords arc
moderate in phrase. firm ana unanswer-
able In substance. The papers declare
that the nation Is prepared and will will
inely undertake all the sacrifices fore
sha allowed and will face greater prtva-
tions IL necessary to insure those ends OF
reparation and security which the allies
demand from the central powers.
There is nowhere any hostile critf-
cism of the governments declaration. ,
but the Daily News contends that the
forecasts 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 if the new government sue
ceeds as we'll as its predecessor the ma.
ton will be grateful. and that If 1t sucs
ceeds better the nation will be moro
than grateful.
Sees Chance for Farley.
At the same time the newspaper com-
ment points out the possibility of nego-
tiations being undertaken. notwith-
standing the strong statements Of tho
premier and Lord Curzon and their in
dorsement by members of the late gov
ernment Thus the Daily News says
that the door Is not necessarily banged
and bolted and that the allies fiat re-
Yusal of Chancellor Won Bethmann HoE-
wee's offer is not meant to indicate that
the allies do not wish peace, but that
Germany must ask 1t in the role Of the
va anuuished and not the victor. The
News expresses the hope that the allies
will speedily agree on precise terms on
which they will be willing to negotiate,
Even the Mail. which has always dee
manded extreme measures against Gers
many, says:
There is no obstacle whatever to
peace IL Germany really wants it. she
has merely to withdraw from the occu-;
pied countries and we are willing
enough to discuss reparation and guara
antees for the future"
Domestic Program Vast.
The British public had much to re-
feet on this morning. The reply of
Premier Lloyd George to the German
peace proposals had been anticipated,
and passages OF his speech dealing
With that question appeared In the