Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-22

London, Dec. 22.-The general puphc
had their first news of the peace note
from the United States from the papers
this morning and the matter was the
one topic of discussion on incoming
suburban trains and thruOut the clty.
The people, like the press, were rather
taken aback, as they had about con-
cluded that Premier Lloyd-Georges
| speech had put an end to all peace talk
unless the central powers IN their reply
! to the premier were prepared TO 61lef
their terms. That the United States
president or other neutral ruler Wouid
takt action was furtherest from their
minds
The evening papers, which do not
print editorials came out with pls
headlines which expressed their views.
The Evening News, which is the art
ernoon edition of the Daily Mail, heads
reprint Of the comment OF the
morning papers with the one word
mo" in large black type and under 1t
"Our Answer to President Wilson"
and again "No, No, No, that is the an
swer Great Britain gives today without
any hesitation to the surprising note
from President Wilson"
harkina Back to Lincoln.
"There could be no worse mistake
than to think Mr.. Wilson is to DO 20
the allies what President Lincoln
dreaded the European powers wou.d
do during his fight for the union. We
did not ask President Lincoln stosssave
ILancasiiire sstle- expense Of America
liberty and we, are confident Mr.. Will
son will not ask US to sacrifice our llD-
| erty in order to mitigate the hardships
! which the war inflicts upon Amer
| leans"
AS to the question of the objects OF
THE belligerents being the same, the
Star IN its allusion to President W1l-
sons words in this case says;
This is an astounding statement
which we can not with the best will IN
the world reconcile with the facts
Globe Sarcastic.
The Globe today gives a secondary
place to it's comment on President VIII
sons note which is made in satlrlcal
vein under the heading, What Is the
Matter With Him."
1--WE sincerely hope President Wilson
is not unwen," says the Globe. Yet
we find ourselves gravely doubtful as
| to his physical wellbeing.
The paper then goes on to ask II the
president has never heard OF what the
Germans did in Belgium and Serbia
and confesses that 1t finds itself unable
| to believe he knows these things when
| he describes the central powers as de-
sirous of securing small states against
aggression. The high cost Of living is
said to be hitting the average Ameri-
can citizen hard indeed, which may &C
count in some way for the milk Of hu-
man kindness in the presidential co.
coanut."
Star Approves.
The Star in it's comment says:
president Wilson'S note is Christ
mas bombshefl. It comes as COM
plete surprise to US. Let US say at
once that the allies in general and
Great Britain in particular ought to
treat it with the most sympathetic re-
snonse AMI s,,-o 4 careful considera-
ton.
"Mr. Wilson is one OF the greatest
presidents Of one of the greatest ma
tions in the world. He stands TOR
things that we as nation believe IN.
His ideals are our ideals We gladly
give his words the hearing due to a
friend speaking in behalf of friends.
We refuse to question his sincerity or
| his singlemindness. The spirit Of his
Christmas sounding Is the right spirit.
It is a spirit which we believe animates
the British people and their allies and
which they are not afraid OF sounding.
The Edinburgh Scotsman says Presi-
dent Wilson has placed himself in the
position Of an interlocutor on the side
Of Germany.
Note auppIants War News.
| President Wilson's note Is given the
honor Of the biggest display in the
morning papers, relegating the war
news to a minor place. Headlines such
a. "President Wilson's Strange Peace
Essay" and president Wilson's Feeler"
and Amazing Note indicate in slight
measure the ast,,lrisih.:: il g: ert caused by
the note. Much speculation is INDUCED
| In as to the motive or causes which In
spired the president to send such q
note after his assumption of the atti-
tude that he would not mediate unless
invited by both groups Of belligerents.
Parliament was prorogued this after
noon without the members being given
more information regarding President
Wilson's note or what action the gov
ernment contemplated with respect to
IT.
Still Confident Of Victory.
/ Neither the note nor the German
! proposal was mentioned in the kings
speech, read in both houses. The only
reference to the presidents suggestion
was made by Bonar Law, the govern
ment leader, in reply to 9 question BY