The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-12-26


made by Theodorus Heemskerk,
former Premier OF the Neither
lands, the Dutch statesman taking
the ground that the Entente cannot az
ford either to ignore the American sug-
gestions for clearcut statements of the
positions and aims of the Allies or the
peace suggestions advanced by the
Teut0n Powers.
""'he offer made by the Central Pow
e-s Nould not be rejected of hand, /"
h. sid. "There should be some way
f0ur of ending the conflict. 1t is i'm
possible for the Entente to crush Ger
FRAY and Austria and it is impossible
for the TeutOns 90 crush Britain,
I'm see and Russia. Should the at
TENT to destroy each other be kept
up, il will mean a war that will con
tinue for years, with the ever constant
danger of the neutral Powers being
drawn, into the conflict
Ffench Criticism Severe
The comments In France continue TO
be hostile to the original note of the
President, while the explanations made
by Secretary Lansing have aroused the
ire of the German press. The fact that
in both the Entente and the Germanie
press the comments are now unfavor-
able to the American note is regarded
here as wholesome sign, indicating
the exact neutrality and impaTtiaity
Of the Presidents stand.
In France and Germany such head
ings as "Lansing's Verge of War
Blnnder. " 1.-THE Snare of Peace" and
"wilsoh g Mistake" are given the ar
ticles of comment.
oxerloOis Moral Side
stephen Pichon, the editor of lie
Petit Journal, the most widely circu-
lated Of Parisian publications, takes
Wilson severely to task.
1.-THE note" says NJ. Pichon, "makes
no distinction between the States that
provoked the war and those upon whom
il was forced. We should be lacking
in the first of our duties in not holding
st up as an outrage TO our honor and
dignity"
Ex Premier Clemenceau, in his
1FHomme Enchaine, declares: "The
moral side of the war has escaped Pre-,
E!dent Wilson"
German Views
Varying views appear in the comment
e German papers upon the President 3
Eote. The views range from an enthu-
Fiastic welcome sounded by the Tage-
Ilatt TO a cynical quasi-acquiescence
by the VOssiche Zeitung.
The middle ground is represented
by the Lokahi Auzeiger, which prefers
10 await an answer from the Entente
Powers on the German peace proposals.
After this is received, says the Anzei-
ger IL will appear what bearing the
PTesideRt 3 note has on the situation.
Another Explanation
An Official statement in explanation
Of the exact desires Of the Presid ent
and the whole motive underlying the
despatch OF his note was prepared and
given out last night by the state de-
partment.
The various belligerents are asked 10
give the exact meaning each attaches
to the phrase each uses that its gov
eminent desires "a just and permanen mt
peace" This is the whole purpose of
the Presidents note.
The government regards the speeches
of all the statesmen Of all the warning
Powers as ''vague and underlined. -
Each speaks of "the rights of the small
natiohs; each declares his repugDa nee
20 eOnquests, and each expresses the
pledge Of his government us desiring
guarantees Of permanent peace when
the peace treaty is signed
Lacking In Details
None of these expressions give the
details the President requires and
which he must have TO shape his own
aOUrse and that of the United States.
As the largest Of the neutral Powers
and as q nation that is facing grave
problems, America is entitled to an eI-
preston from each of the belligerents
shifting its actual terms Of peace,
The President desi,es these as basis
FOR whatever negotiations the United
States may be asked to take part in,