The sun., 1916-12-20
EDITORIAL VIEWS OF
PREMIER'S ADDRESS
wAllics Will Be Glad to Accept
Worse Tcrms,' Says
"Dcutsches Journal"
MILITARISM'S END SEEN
"England Hasn't Rejected
German Proposals." Opines
New York "WOrld."

The tolloring editorial comS ,ent re.
cordinD Premier David Lloyd Georges
ons,rcr TO the Gcrman peace proposal
Ia printed this morning IN Neto York
S%cirspdpcrs:
Deutches JoursSl-1n replying to the
Central Powers peace proposals the
British Premier Yesterday again mounted
the high horse" Not until victorious
Germany is ready to bow to the bragg
CARTS Of the Entente "A there be any
talk Of peace. asserts Lloyd George, and
his satellites In the Entente agree with
him. The reparation which the ALLIES
demand they will have to go and get, and
the guarantees OF which Lloyd George
speaks Germany will take. no longer
BY meeting her enemies half way. but
with the sword Of the victor. .
The Allies will be only too
glad 10 accept sooner or later conditions
far worse than those which Germany
evidently was ready to grant at this
time.
taats.Zeltung-Lloyd Georges an
sNer to the German peace invitation Is
neither disappointing nor productive Of
hopes. IL was not expected that he
would fatty turn down the German pro-
posal. nor that he intended to further the
idea of a conference. lie evades the
real issue by weaving n veil about the
German prefer and heaping up pretexts,
Q later date to make the unwlllingness
OF the Allies appear to be based on
plausible motives. Time will tell what
j. 10 develop from these proceedings.
New Yorker Herold-Again a British
s~t,tcsnan--as go often I'm this war-has
employed terms of the race track In maxi
ing known to Parliament and the world
his views In this world drama. .
And the greatest neutral land. which
for reasons of humanity "a word which
the President has always on the tin OF
his ,olgue) should bet to prevent fur
ther bloodshed, cannot yet do SO. for its
own rulers, the money kings. would first
load or to the fools in the United States
the new secured loans OF the Allies
and pocket the huge commission At
ANY rate. however. Lloyd Georges speech
shows that a way has beer left open
to an initiation OF negotiations, though
Il tx possible that further German blows
must be struck.
The Tlmes--An the p%ortcnts fore
shldcwed the nature Of the speech Lloyd
George would mako yesterday. 1t was
!nconclusive. II set forth no definite peace
terms. but Enthusiastically II leaves the
door open to further exchanges. to &C.
tual peace negotiations. That Is all Inn
portant. The first step. the
overthrow Of militarism. Is the funda-
mental condition Of peace 1t Is a con-
dltion which the United States. IL we
had \ voice In tho matter. would insist
upon. for any end of the war hat left
Germany unchanged. possessed Of the
old spirit and the old purpose OF con-
guest and domination. would demand
OF us instant and formidable prepara-
tons for the security of our own house.
hold. The whole neutral world Is In the
same position.
The Tribune-The reply of the British
Prime Minister to the German peace
proposal was simple and straightfor-
ward. II was the only reply that any
responsible Minister Of an Allied nation
could make. II did not make wal upon
the idea OF peace. but II did make clear
that only one peace was possible, and
that was a peace which restored to full
vigor that whole structure and body OF
International law n national right
which Germany invaded W years and
q half ago. The restoration OF
Belgium and of Serbia. reparation to
Serbia and Belgium for crimes COM
mitted against them, n through them
against civilizatlon-these must be the
minimum conditions. not for peace. but
for the discussion Of peace.
The WOrld-Like DIR. Won Bethmann-
Hollweg's speech TO the Retchstag. Mr..
Lloyd Georges speech to the House Of
Commons is heavy with the rhetoric OF
defiance and recrlmination. Neverthe-
less, It is as plain that the Prime Min
lister has not rejected the German peace
proposal outright As It was that the
Imperial Chancellor had made such a
proposal. Instead Of closing the door.
Mir Lloyd George liz careful to hold II
Cpnn and In effect TO invite the German
Government to submit terms. :
Tie speech OF Mr.. Lloyd George leaves
n" issue wholly In the hands Of the Inn
perlal Government, which cannot hauy
refuse to meet the British demands for
Q definition OF terms without confessing
that its original proposal was a piece OF
diplomatic false pretenses designed
chiefly to divide the Allies and bedevil
neutral sentiment.