Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-31
ENTENTE Rejects
PEACE PROPOSALS
CoNrINrEn rRoM rAGE oNE

They have shown by their acts tnc,r
attachment TO peace. That attach
mcnt Is as strong today as It was }
1914. But II Is rot upon the word Of
Germany. after the violation OF its er-
that the peace broken bs
her may hc based
"A mere suggestion without s ate.
mont OF terms that NEGOTIATIONS should
be opened ~ not an offer of peace Tnc
putting forward bV the imperial gov
cinmcut of sham proposal. lacking
all substance and precision would ap
pear 20 hc less an offer Of pe1ce than
q war naneuver. II is fourncu on
calculated nisintcrprctation Of the
character Of the struggle IN the past
the present ana future.
They caused War.
As for the past the German note
takes NO account Of the facts. dotoi,
and figures which establish that the
war was desired, provoked and &c
cared by Germany aud Austria-Hun-
gary.
AT the Hague conference 1t was
German delegates who refused an
proposals for disarmament. ln July
1914, II was Arstria-I hungary who
after having addressed to Serbia an
un-rrCC edented ultimatum, declared
war upon hor in spite of the salts
faction which had once been accoruod.
fhc central powers then rejected
all attempts made 10y The entente to
bring ;bout a pacific solution of a
purely local conflict.
Great Britain suggested confer
cnce: Franc" proposed an iniorna-
tiCuIl commission: the emperor Of
Russia asked The German emperor to
20 TO arbitration Lnd Russia and Aus-
trie Hungary came 10 AN understand
ihc or the eve of the conflict. liut
10 all these efforts Germany gave
neither answer nor effect
Tia, scrap of Paper.
Belgium was Invaded hy an empire
which had guaranteed hcr neutrality
ara which had the assurance to pro-
claim that treaties were 'srrdps OF
paIer' ana that necessity knows no
law
AT the present moment these sham
offers on the part Of Germany rest
ON the war map Of Europe alone whicG
lcIresc ntcd nothing more than a
superficial and passing phase nf the
situation and not the real strength
cf the bellirerents \ peace con-
cluded mon these terms swould be
only to the advantage of the aggrcs-
sore who after imagining that they
would reach their goal Ia two months
could never attain il.
Must BE Rcparation
AS fer the fut3rc the disasters
caused Nv the German declaration of
war and the innumcrablc outrage
committed by Germany and her allies
against both bclligcrant' and ncutrals
demand penalties, rcparation anG
guarantees. Germany avoids mention
inr any of these.
TN italy these overturCs made by
the central powers are nothing more
Than a calculated attempt 'iuflu-
enCe the future course OF war and to
cnd II 10y imposing German pcacc.
The object Of these o,arturcs is to
create dissension in public opinion in
the allicd countries But that public
opinion mas. in spite of ali TIA" sacri-
ticcs endured by the allies already
given its answer with admirable llrm-
ness ana has dcnounca1 the empty
prcterse of the declaration of the
enemy powers.
"rhey have the further object of
stiffening public opinion in Germany
and in ehe countries allied TO hor-
one and all severely tried ~ their
losses, worn out bv economic pres
sure and crushed ny the Supreme of-
fort which has been imposed upor
their inlia bitants
description Attempted
Tho endeavora to deceive and
publ.. opinion IN neutral
countries whose inhabitants hpve long
since made up>their minds where he
initial responsibility lies and lTe far
TOO enlightened to Lvor tho designs
Of Germany by abandoning the de-
fence of human freedom
Finally tnese ovcrtures attempt to
Justify in 1Vancc in tie owes OF the
world Few series of crimcs-suhmd-
rine warfare, deportations, forced
labor and forced enlistment Of the m
fp itantS against their own countries
and y violations OF neutrality
Fully conscious of the gravity of
this moment but equally conscious
Of its requirements the allied gov
ernments closely united to one an
other and in perfect sympathy witt
their people refuse TO consider a pro-
puSal which is empty and insince~e.
"Once again the allies declare that
no peace is possible 80 'org as they
have not secured rcparation for vio-
lated rights and liberties. the re rognt-
tion of the principle Of nationalltirs
and Cf the free existence Of small
states, so long as they have not
brought about o settlement calculated
To end once and for oil forces which
have constituted perpetual me3ac,
to- tho nations and afford the only ef-
fectivei guarantee for the future Sc
curity OF the world.
Regarding Belgium.
I'm conclusion the allied powers
think it necessary to putforward the
following considerations which snow
the special situation OF Belgium afte'
two and a half years Gf war. Nln Nir-
tue Of the international treaties signo1
by five great European powers O.
whom Germanv was one. Belgium en-
juVed before the war a special status
her territory inviO,able and
placing her under the guarantee cf the
Iowers outside ell European conf Ct
She was. however, in spite or taese
treaties the first TO suffer the aggres-
sion of Germany. For this relsnn
The Belgian government thinks II nee
cssary to define the aims which
Belgium fAs never ceased to pursne
while fighting SIDE by SIDE with the
entente powers TOR right and JUSTICE
Belgium has always scrupulcuslN
fulfilled the duties which her neut al
NY imposed upon her. She has TAX
lip arms to defcnd her independence
and her neutrallty violated by Ger
many and to show that she remains
faithful to her international obiiga-
tons.
Broke Promise.
"On the 4th of August 1914. In
I pn rhnnrp1lDT